CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy Pensions

Michael Jack: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the future pensions provision for clergy.

Stuart Bell: Last November the General Synod agreed a package of proposals relating to clergy stipends and pensions. These proposals had been put together in the light of six-month consultation with dioceses following publication in 2001 of a detailed review of clergy remuneration. The consultation resulted in overwhelming support for a continuation of a "defined benefits" pension scheme.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Data

Norman Baker: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on the methods by which the decision of an elector who has cast a vote can subsequently be identified.

Peter Viggers: On this occasion, I have asked to reply as the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed is attending the funeral of Richard Wainright, our former Parliamentary colleague.
	Ballot papers and counterfoils carry the same serial number, and the voter number is written on the counterfoil by the polling station clerk. Matching may be carried out in cases where allegations of fraud are made, but this is only done when ordered by an Election Court.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Olympic Games

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evaluation she has made of the impact of a UK Olympic bid on sport.

Tessa Jowell: I have evaluated the sporting impact of a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in terms of facilities, elite success and participation.

Olympic Games

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's latest estimate is of the likely cost of a successful London Olympic bid; what her Department's assessment is of the likely cost to the Government of a successful London bid; what impact she estimates a successful bid would have on the funding of sport in the other English regions; and if her Department will carry out an assessment of the benefits of funding a successful bid against other options which promote sport throughout all regions.

Tessa Jowell: The Government's estimate of the likely cost of staging the Olympic Games is £4.67 billion in forecast outturn prices. Taking account of likely revenues the games might require a public subsidy of £2.6 billion. These estimates are based on the figures provided by Arup Consultants in their report on the cost and benefits of a London 2012 Olympics, the outcome of consultations with key stakeholders, Government Departments and those who would be responsible for delivery of the games, and an assessment of the uncertainty and risk associated with hosting the games. The cost of mounting a bid is estimated at £17 million in forecast outturn prices.
	We are also currently considering with the Mayor of London how the games would be funded if a decision is taken in favour of a bid.
	This work is part of Government's continuing consideration of whether to support a bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Within this context I am determined that were Government to support a London bid then grassroots sport, especially in the regions, should not suffer from any diversion of resources.

Public Libraries

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have been put online.

Richard Caborn: The £100 million lottery funded people's network programme has enabled 4,085 libraries in the UK to be connected to the internet, including all the libraries in the London Borough of Brent. This represents 99 per cent. of libraries in England, 95 per cent. in Scotland and 100 per cent. in Wales and Northern Ireland. Only 39 English and 30 Scottish libraries have still to be connected, and we expect all but two of these to be online by summer 2003. This is a very significant achievement.

BBC Charter

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met the Chairman of the BBC to discuss the provisions of the BBC Charter relating to TV advertising.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets the Chairman of the BBC to discuss a range of issues. However, there has been no discussion of this particular issue.

Concessionary Television Licence(Sheltered Housing)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will introduce regulations to amend the concessionary TV licence scheme for sheltered housing.

Kim Howells: We hope to be able to bring forward amending regulations before the end of the current financial year, to introduce preserved rights to the Accommodation for Residential Care concession in cases where the social mix or the level of warden provision change.

Press Complaints Commission

Clive Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Press Complaints Commission on standards in the press.

Kim Howells: I have not met the Press Complaints Commission recently but my Department continues to monitor closely the effectiveness of the newspaper industry's self regulatory system. I would have no hesitation in suggesting improvement as and when appropriate.

Lottery Funding (West Chelmsford)

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money was made available to good causes in the West Chelmsford constituency for the latest available period.

Richard Caborn: According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the National Lottery awards database, £15,682,836 of Lottery funding has been awarded to West Chelmsford by 31 December 2002.

Performance Licensing(Village Halls and Churches)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy on the licensing of performances in (a) village halls and (b) churches.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House earlier today setting out the conclusions of our consideration of the provision of entertainment and entertainment facilities in places of religious worship and village halls under the Licensing Bill. The Government have now tabled an amendment to the Bill that would exempt secular entertainment provided in places of public religious worship and the provision of entertainment facilities in such places from the need to obtain a licence under the Bill when it is enacted. Music for the purposes of or incidental to a religious service or meeting will remain exempt.
	We have also made clear our intention to exempt church halls, chapel halls or other similar buildings occupied in connection with a place of public religious worship, and village halls, parish or community halls or other similar buildings from the fees associated with the provision of entertainment facilities under the licensing regime.

Coronation Anniversary

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for a national celebration of the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's Coronation; and what discussions she has had with Buckingham Palace about a celebration.

Tessa Jowell: It was agreed with Buckingham Palace that the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne would be celebrated during 2002 and that the focal point of the celebrations would be the "Jubilee weekend" in June. The details were announced by the Prime Minister on 23 November 2000, Official Report, columns 294–95W, and 22 June 2001, Official Report, columns 7–8W.
	Any events to mark the 50th anniversary of Coronation will be arranged as part of the Queen's normal programme of engagements by Buckingham Palace rather than in co-ordination with my officials in the Golden Jubilee Office who were solely concerned with the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession last year.

Local Arts Strategies

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the measures her Department takes to assist the development of local arts strategies.

Richard Caborn: As part of the Government's package of freedoms and flexibilities for local government, local cultural strategies are to be included within local authorities' community strategies.

Renewable Energy (Northern Ireland)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money the national lottery has given to renewable energy projects in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.

Richard Caborn: In January this year one project in Northern Ireland, the Fermanagh Business Initiative-Biomass for Sustainable Development, received £105,520 from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) under the small-scale biomass heating schemes strand of NOF's transforming communities initiative. No applications have been received from Northern Ireland for the large-scale (£33 million) strand. The deadline for applications for funding for offshore wind projects is July 2003.
	There has been no previous lottery funding for renewable energy, either from the New Opportunities Fund or other distributors. There are, therefore, no figures for previous years.

CABINET OFFICE

Delivery Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people have been employed by the Delivery Unit in each year since its inception;
	(2)  what the cost has been of the relocation of the Delivery Unit to the Treasury;
	(3)  how many staff from his Department worked for the Delivery Unit in each year since the Unit's inception.

Douglas Alexander: The Delivery Unit remains part of the Cabinet Office. There were 19 full-time equivalent staff on 1 January 2002 and 34 on 1 January 2003. It will be relocating to the Treasury building in Horse Guards Road.

Gateway Review

Richard Allan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many information technology projects have been through the Office of Government Commerce Gateway Review process.

Paul Boateng: I have been asked to reply.
	The gateway process categorises projects as "IT-enabled business change" where the business benefits are dependant upon IT. More significantly, such a categorisation requires projects to demonstrate real changes to the way the client organisation works, its skills, organisation structure and its business process re-engineering. 179 such procurement projects have been reviewed by the Gateway process teams.

Local Councillors (Ethical Framework)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many town, parish and community councillors have resigned or retired citing the effect of the new ethical framework; how many have refused to sign their code of conduct; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: There is no requirement for local authority members to inform us of resignations, for whatever reason, or refusals to sign the code of conduct. However, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Standards Board for England together have been informed of 95 resignations by Parish Councillors who were unwilling to accept the code of conduct, out of an estimated total of some 70,000 parish and town councillors across England.

Ombudsmen Staff

Edward Davey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) full time and (b) part time staff have (i) left and (ii) been recruited to the (A) Office of the Health Service Ombudsman, (B) Office of the Legal Service Ombudsman and (C) Office of the Financial Ombudsman Service in each year since 1990.

Douglas Alexander: The Health Service Ombudsman, the Legal Services Ombudsman, and the Financial Ombudsman Service all operate independently of Government under powers set out in their respective governing statutes, including powers to appoint staff. Aggregate information about staffing is published in the annual reports of the Ombudsman concerned. Copies of annual reports are available in the Libraries of the House. Information about staffing at the level of detail requested should be obtained directly from the relevant Ombudsman's office.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Alcoholic Beverages

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated value is of central Government's stock of alcoholic beverages; how many bottles of (a) wine, (b) beer, (c) spirits and (d) other alcoholic beverages are held in the Government reserves for entertainment and other purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government Wine Cellar is administered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and managed by Government Hospitality on behalf of all Government Departments. The cellar contains a mixture of fine wines, beverage wines and spirits and liqueurs. Stock levels vary but generally the cellar contains approximately 37,000 bottles, the majority of which are wine. The value of the stock is subjective and bears no relation to the purchase cost. Fine wines are bought young and then stored until ready for use, enabling wines of good age and excellent value to be used by the Government for its hospitality needs. The current value of the stock is estimated to be in the region of £1.5 million.

Croatia

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had in the past three months with (a) the European Commission and (b) European partners on Croatia's progress towards membership of the European Union.

Denis MacShane: The UK reviews regularly at working level, with both the European Commission and our EU partners, the progress with EU integration of all Western Balkan countries, including Croatia. There has been no specific discussion at Ministerial level of Croatia's progress towards EU membership. Although the issue of Croatia's EU application and the need to comply fully with ICTY obligations have been raised in bi-lateral discussions with EU officials and partner nations.

Croatia

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Croatia's readiness for EU membership, with particular reference to Croatia's co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Denis MacShane: The Feira European Council in June 2000 gave Croatia, along with the other countries of the Western Balkans, the firm prospect of eventual EU membership if they meet the accession criteria. We understand that Croatia intends to submit an application for membership in the coming weeks. When it does so, the Council will ask the Commission to prepare an Opinion on Croatia's readiness to open accession negotiations. Particular attention will be given to the extent to which Croatia meets the Copenhagen political criteria. These relate to the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities. Co-operation with ICTY will be an important issue that the Commission will examine in this context. The UK, like other member states, will wait for the Commission to issue its Opinion before reaching a judgment.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received further information from the UN Security Council with respect to the allegations set out in the Panel of Experts Report on the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We asked for further information from the UN Expert Panel in November 2002. The Panel was unable to re-start work until it had been granted a new mandate. This was given by UN Security Council Resolution 1457, agreed on 24 January. We will continue to press for an early response.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo about the skinning alive of cats to make fur toys.

Bill Rammell: The FCO is unaware of the background to this question and has not raised this issue with the Government of the DRC.

Equatorial Guinea

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the opportunities for British business in Equatorial Guinea; and what steps are being taken to ensure that British diplomatic representation reflects that level of opportunity.

Bill Rammell: The British Government is aware of the increased opportunities for British business in Equatorial Guinea, in particular in the oil and gas sector. Trade Partners UK has recently appointed a consultant in Equatorial Guinea for six months, to identify opportunities and inform UK industry. We will consider the case for permanent representation depending on the outcome of the consultancy and resources available. The UK is officially represented in Equatorial Guinea through its diplomatic mission in Yaounde, Cameroon.

EU Enlargement

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if those countries due to accede to the EU in 2004 will have the same rights as the current member states at the next IGC; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: In Declaration 23 on the Future of the Union attached to the Treaty of Nice, European leaders agreed that,
	"those candidates which have concluded accession negotiations with the Union will be invited to participate in the Conference. Those candidate States which have not concluded their accession negotiations will be invited as observers."
	We strongly believe that the EU should not agree a new Treaty at the next IGC without the full involvement of those countries due to accede in 2004.

Health and Safety Strategy

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department and its agencies have met the commitment arising from Action Point 13 of the June 2000 strategy statement on Revitalising Health and Safety to summarise health and safety performance and plans in annual reports from the year 2000–01 onwards.

Mike O'Brien: The FCO's Departmental Report for 2002–03 summarises where the FCO currently stands regarding health and safety in its UK offices and outlines targets for implementing a standard health and safety management system in its overseas posts.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Israel to ensure that goods produced in Israeli settlements are not imported to the EU under the preference terms of the EU-Israel Association Agreement; what assessment he has made of the level of cooperation shown by Israel in responding to these representations; and what the results of these representations have been.

Denis MacShane: At the EU-Israel Association Council meeting on 21 October 2002, the UK joined with other Member States in stressing the importance of the correct application of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and welcomed an offer by Israel to make proposals on the issue of goods from settlements in the Occupied Territories. We continue to raise this issue in bilateral contacts with Israel.

Zimbabwe

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the French Government and to President Chirac regarding Robert Mugabe's possible visit to a Franco-African summit in Paris; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the policy is of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the attendance by Robert Mugabe at a Franco-African summit in Paris to be held on the 19th February; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: We would not invite Robert Mugabe to an equivalent Summit in the UK. But the France/Africa Summit lakes place in Paris on 20–21 February, two days after the current EU sanctions on Zimbabwe are due to expire. Our priority is to ensure a rollover of those sanctions. The rollover requires the unanimous agreement of all 15 EU member Slates. This has not yet been achieved, but is the subject of intensive discussions, most recently at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 27 January and at a meeting of Permanent Representatives to the EU on 30 January.

Zimbabwe

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with members of the Commonwealth over the situation in Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular contact with fellow members of the Commonwealth and with the Commonwealth Secretariat about the situation in Zimbabwe. The Minister for Africa, my noble Friend Baroness Amos, discussed Zimbabwe with a number of Commonwealth Ministers at the EU/Southern African Development Community meeting in Maputo from 7 to 8 November 2002, and the Africa/Europe Ministerial in Ouagadougou on 28 November 2002. Baroness Amos also raises Zimbabwe regularly in her bilateral contacts with Commonwealth Partners.

Saudi Arabia

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have received official documentation on the charges, evidence, transcript of the trial and sentence of Sandy Mitchell, Les Walker, James Lee and James Cottel detained in Saudi Arabia.

Mike O'Brien: The details of individual consular cases are confidential. The British men detained in Saudi Arabia have legal representation and discuss their cases with their lawyers. We are in close contact with the men's lawyers and we keep the families informed of developments in the case. It has been the wish of the men themselves, and the majority of the families, that we do not discuss the cases in detail in public.

Sierra Leone

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's latest evaluation is of the stability of Sierra Leone; and what progress has been made since British intervention.

Bill Rammell: We have made a significant political and military investment in restoring peace to Sierra Leone. Good progress has been made since peace was declared a year ago. Over 50,000 combatants were disarmed and almost 39,000 have undergone reintegration. Peaceful and credible elections were held in May 2002. UNAMSIL, the UN peacekeeping mission, began a gradual withdrawal in November 2002. The UK continues to play a major role in post-conflict rebuilding. We have helped to re-equip, assist and advise the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). Through the International Military and Advisory Training Team (IMATT) the UK leads the training and reform of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). In November 2002, we confirmed a 10-year programme of support to reform in Sierra Leone.
	However, the situation is still fragile and much remains to be done to secure a sustainable peace. Recent events in Sierra Leone, including a raid on a military barracks in Freetown, are of concern. The RSLAF, supported by UNAMSIL and the SLP, responded well to the incident and the SLP have made a sizeable number of arrests. Regional instability, especially the continuing conflicts in Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire, remains a threat to peace in Sierra Leone. We are actively involved in international efforts to resolve these conflicts.

Strategic Exports Report

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next Annual Report on Strategic Exports will be published.

Mike O'Brien: A precise date for publication of the 2002 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls has not yet been determined. However, the Government expect to publish the report before the end of July 2003.

Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the basis was for his assertion in his statement on terrorism on 21 January 2003, Official Report, column 176, that the nerve gas found recently in the United Kingdom could not have been produced by terrorists alone.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was, of course, referring to the recent discovery of ricin in Wood Green. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote recently to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson) to clarify that and placed a copy of his letter in the Library.

North Africa

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect on the UK of terrorism in North Africa and the measures he is taking to combat this.

Mike O'Brien: We have been working closely with our European partners and North African countries to take effective action against individuals who represent a threat to national security.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Improvement Districts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with representatives of small businesses on the creation of business improvement districts.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for policy on Business Improvement Districts which was first set the in our White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" in December 2001. The legislation to introduce Business Improvement Districts is contained in the Local Government Bill.
	We published on 21 January draft guidance on Business Improvement Districts, which is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website. This draft guidance is intended to give advice to those wishing to set up a Business Improvement District as well as acting as an introduction to the draft legislation. It was drafted with the close involvement of business and local government organisations. The Federation of Private Business, the Small Business Bureau and DTI's Small Business Service were closely involved in this process. Details of those organisations who contributed to the draft guidance are given at the front of that document.
	The publication of the draft guidance provides a further opportunity for small business groups and other interested parties to comment on the development of this innovative policy at an early stage. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to consult formally on the draft guidance in the spring.

Climate Change

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) schemes and (b) bodies to which his Department contributes funding that are concerned with climate change.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned last year an internal study of the implications of climate change on its policies and funded schemes and bodies. This study forms part of a cross-Government process to examine the consequences of climate change across a range of Government Departments. A report of the study is expected to be produced during summer 2003.

Deprivation

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the claim in the recent Greater London Enterprise report, Developing new approaches to the measurement of deprivation, as to the amount of money that London has lost in Neighbourhood Renewal Funding as a result of the changes to deprivation ranking.

Barbara Roche: Neighbourhood Renewal Funding is allocated using the Indices of Deprivation 2000 (ID 2000). In moving to a new instrument the Government recognised that some authorities that would have benefited on the old basis for allocations would not have done so under the new one. Transitional arrangements were therefore set up to make allowance for authorities that had been among the most deprived areas on the old index and are not among the most deprived areas on the ID 2000. Four London Authorities are now in receipt of transitional protection.

Green Belt

James Clappison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to give further protection to the green belt against developers purchasing agricultural land and selling it on in plots without planning permission; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 789W.

Local Government Finance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will revise the 6 per cent. reduction in the Government's social services formula for the London Borough of Brent.

Nick Raynsford: The figures the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published for consultation show Brent's Formula Spending Share for social services for 2003–04 increasing by 5.1 per cent. over the comparable figure for 2002–03. This is above the average for all outer London boroughs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will publish the Government's final proposals for the 2003–04 local government finance settlement on 3 February, and will then be debated in the House on 5 February. In reaching our conclusions we have very carefully considered all the representations made to us during the consultation period, including those from the London Borough of Brent.

New Developments (Thames Gateway)

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport with regard to planned developments in the Thames Gateway.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has met the Secretary of State for Transport on a number of occasions to discuss a wide range of issues of common interest.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) executive agencies affiliated to his Department are responsible for providing advice or services in London, indicating in each case the (i) overall budget and (ii) estimated running costs for each year from 1996–97 to 2002–03;
	(2)  if he will list (a) the non-departmental public bodies and (b) executive agencies affiliated to his Department, broken down by region, indicating in each case the (i) overall budget and (ii) estimated running costs in each year from 1996–97 to 2002–03.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for sponsoring six executive non-departmental public bodies who either operate solely in, or have headquarters in, London. These are the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation, the Standards Board for England, Stonebridge Housing Action Trust and Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust. In addition, Castle Vale Housing Action Trust operates solely in the West Midlands and Liverpool Housing Action Trust operates solely in the North West.
	There are five executive agencies which are the responsibility of Ministers within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre operates solely in London. The Rent Service has their headquarters in London and has a network of offices throughout England. The Fire Service College is based in the South West and the Planning Inspectorate's headquarters are also in this region. The Ordnance Survey's headquarters are in the South East.
	All these non-departmental public bodies and agencies publish annual reports and accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Pathfinder Report

Dave Watts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who commissioned the Pathways reports; for what reason the Government commissioned the Pathways review; when he expects to publish its findings; how the draft Pathways recommendations differ from the Bain report's findings; and if he will place a copy of the draft Pathways report in the Library.

Nick Raynsford: I assume that my hon. friend is referring to the report of the Fire Cover Review Task Group of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council (CFBAC), also known as the Pathfinder report.
	The report was commissioned by the Council in order to assess the practical issues that would have to be addressed if risk-based fire cover were introduced, as had been recommended by the Audit Commission in its report In the Line of Fire (1995).
	The Pathfinder report was placed in the Library of the House and was also published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister web site on 23 December 2002.
	The report made general recommendations about the implementation of Fire Service Emergency Cover and the way forward, including ways in which some of its numerical findings could be made more accurate. None of the quantitative findings reported in the Pathfinder report were endorsed by the Fire Cover Review Task Group. They recommended that the calculations which these findings were based on should be improved in various ways to make them more reliable. Bearing this in mind the Pathfinder recommendations are not at variance with those of Sir George Bain's Independent Review of the Fire Service.
	The Fire Cover Review Task Group's report suggests that substantial improvements in Fire Service efficiency and effectiveness are achievable, especially if greater attention is given to fire prevention. Sir George Bain's report endorsed these findings.

Pensioners (Free Travel)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make resources available for local authorities to introduce free travel for pensioners on public transport.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 23 January 2003 to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Rosindell) Official Report, columns 508–09W.

School Uniforms (Clothing Grants)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities pay a clothing grant to low-income families to assist in the purchase of school uniform.

David Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Education and Skills does not collect data on the number of local authorities that currently provide clothing grants to assist in the purchase of school uniform.

South West Region

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are employed by the (a) South West Regional Development Agency, (b) Government Office for South West and (c) South West Regional Assembly.

Christopher Leslie: There are currently 214 staff in the South West Regional Development Agency, 327 in the Government Office for the South West and 50 in the South West Regional Assembly.

South West Region

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the annual budget of the (a) South West Regional Development Agency, (b) Government Office for South West and (c) South West Regional Assembly since their inception.

Christopher Leslie: The annual budgets, since inception, are tabled:
	South West Regional Development Agency:
	
		£ million
		
			 Year Budget 
		
		
			 1999–2000 62 
			 2000–01 93 
			 2001–02 114 
			 2002–03 (1)119 
		
	
	(1) Estimate
	Government office for the south West:
	
		
			 Year Budget 
		
		
			 1996–97 7,138,000 
			 1997–98 6,896,241 
			 1998–99 7,006,070 
			 1999–2000 7,864,940 
			 2000–01 8,711,897 
			 2001–02 10,755,110 
			 2002–03 11,854,390 
		
	
	The information for 94–95 (first year of the GO) or 95–96 is not available. The figure for 02–03 is the current figure and may change.
	South West Regional Assembly:
	
		
			 Year Budget 
		
		
			 2000–01 567,574 
			 2001–02 1,056,378 
			 2002–03 1,534,910

PRIME MINISTER

Downing Street

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how much has been allocated in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 for (i) improvements to and (ii) maintenance of Downing Street.

Tony Blair: holding answer 31 January 2003
	Refurbishment and maintenance across numbers 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street is part of a continuing programme of work. The buildings are maintained to standards appropriate to their listed status in consultation with English Heritage and other experts as appropriate. The buildings also fulfil an important representational role.
	For the financial year 2002–03, the Cabinet Office Resource Account is still at the estimate stage and will require final adjustments and audit after the end of the financial year. Estimates for the financial year 2003–04 have not yet been agreed.

Fraud

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister how much money has been lost by his Departments and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies through (a) fraud and (b) theft in each year since 1996–97.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 31 January 2003, Official Report.

Higher Education

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on higher education funding in advance of the announcement on 22 January 2003.

Tony Blair: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects, and will continue to do so. As with previous Governments, it is not my practice to provide details of confidential discussions, under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Human Rights Act

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the Human Rights Act 1998; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor recently delivered a lecture at Durham University containing an assessment of the Act since its introduction. A copy has been placed in the Library today.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received since October 2002 against war with Iraq; and from which organisations and individuals.

Tony Blair: To date I have received nearly 30,000 letters and cards about the subject of Iraq. Given the volume of correspondence I receive, over one million letters in the last year covering a broad spectrum of issues, my office records the numbers of letters received on a subject rather than by the view expressed. However, I know that many people have written to me expressing concerns about action against Iraq and I reiterate what I have said that no decision has been made to take military action and military action is not inevitable. My office works hard to ensure that all the letters receive appropriate responses.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether Lord Birt has completed his work as unpaid strategy adviser.

Tony Blair: No.

Minister without Portfolio

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the responsibilities of the Minister without Portfolio in respect of (a) freedom of information and (b) the European Convention on Human Rights.

Tony Blair: The Lord Chancellor is the Minister with responsibility for freedom of information and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Minister without Portfolio is a member of the Ministerial Committees on Freedom of Information and the Incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights, both of which the Lord Chancellor chairs.

Ministerial Meetings

Douglas Hogg: To ask the Prime Minister what the policy of the Government is on responding to requests for meetings from right hon. and honourable Members.

Tony Blair: It is for individual Ministers to decide on requests for meetings taking account of the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

Official Business

Bob Russell: To ask the Prime Minister how many nights in 2002 he spent in (a) the UK and (b) overseas, on official business; and of those in the UK how many were at (i) Downing Street, (ii) Chequers, (iii) in the Sedgefield constituency and (iv) elsewhere.

Tony Blair: This information is not held in the format requested. The majority of my time is spent in Downing Street and I regularly spend time in Chequers and my constituency.
	A detailed list of Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas, for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1374–75W. A list of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–2003 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year.
	For details of visits in the UK, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 7 November 2002, Official Report, columns 441–43W.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in theMinisterial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Overseas Private Visits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister which elements of the costs of private visits made overseas by the Prime Minister are met by (a) the Government and (b) himself.

Tony Blair: holding answer 29 January 2003
	The only cost that falls to Government in respect of private visits overseas made by me is the cost of essential security and communications staff.

Paper Supplies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Prime Minister who the suppliers are of his office's (a) paper and (b) paper products.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 23 January 2003, Official Report, column 439W.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by his Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 31 January 2003, Official Report, columns 1056–57W.
	The total cost of running the No. 10 press office was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 597,240 
			 1997–98 664,197 
			 1998–99 740,793 
			 1999–2000 784,903 
			 2000–01 954,659 
			 2001–02 1,152,436 
		
	
	Information prior to 1996–97 is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The increase reflects the ever increasing media demands with the advent of more outlets, 24 hour news and growth of the internet, for example.
	For the number of press officers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 469W, and the answer I gave the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 11W.

Statute of Westminster

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite heads of Governments of the appropriate Commonwealth countries to Westminster to review the Statute of Westminster 1931, in relation to the law relating to the Monarchy succession.

Tony Blair: No.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 318W, on weapons of mass destruction, when such assistance has been made available; and if he will describe the type of information provided in each case.

Tony Blair: I have nothing to add to my previous answer. I do not give information on intelligence matters, under exemption 1(a) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Accommodation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what studies she has conducted on the relative cost effectiveness of renting versus purchasing accommodation for her Department in countries in which it operates; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: DFID undertakes a full financial and economic evaluation and risk analysis of options for any new overseas office. A full review is also undertaken when existing leases are approaching the end of their term. Following this analysis, we choose the option that offers the best value for money, taking account of the manageability of risks.

Heavily Indebted Poor Countries

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will estimate the cancellation cost of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries' debts to the UK.

Clare Short: The estimated cost of the cancellation of debts by the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) to the UK is £1.9 billion. This represents the cost of cancelling HIPC countries' debts to Export Credit Guarantee Department, which are covered by the UK's 100 per cent. bilateral forgiveness policy. All aid debts have already been cancelled.

Malawi

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment her Department has made of the belief in and fear of supernatural phenomena in southern Malawi; what assessment her Department has made of the impact the resulting violence toward strangers could have on the distribution of food aid; what meetings (a) she and (b) representatives from her Department have had with the aid agencies that (i) are delivering aid to Malawi and (ii) are planning to deliver aid to Malawi; whether this matter was raised in the meetings; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: DFID officials in Lilongwe participate in regular meetings with representatives of all partners involved in the international and local response to Malawi's food crisis. Belief in witchcraft is still widespread in rural Malawi. However, no evidence of violence towards strangers or disruption of food distribution, resulting from belief in—and fear of—supernatural phenomena in Southern Malawi, has been reported or discussed at such meetings.

Plan Pueblo Panama

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects are being funded in the Plan Puebla Panama by her Department; what support she has given the Plan Puebla Panama within the World Bank; and what protection her Department is seeking for the rights of indigenous people.

Clare Short: DFID is not directly involved in supporting the plan. Any support from the World Bank to the plan would need to take account of the environmental and social safeguards associated with its lending programme, including the issue of indigenous people's rights.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Solar Energy Programme

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many solar PV roofs had been delivered by the end of December 2002 by the United Kingdom solar programme; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The total number of roofs installed under Stream 1 of the first phase of the major PV demonstration programme by the end of December 2002 was 37.

Structural Funds

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect she expects the redefinition of what constitutes an island by statisticians working for the European Commission to have on the structural funding received by regions in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I am unaware of any plans by the European Commission to change their definition of an island. However, any changes to this definition would not affect current Structural Fund programmes, which are fixed until 2006. It is too soon to say whether any changes to the definition would have an effect on the UK after 2006.

Wind Power

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value of Government spending is on the development of wind power in England and Wales.

Brian Wilson: Government expenditure on research and development projects related to wind power in 2001–2 was £2.2 million.
	The DTI and the New Opportunities Fund have set up a programme of capital grants towards the setting up of offshore wind farms with a total budget of £74 million. Grants of £20 million from this have so far been announced.
	The financial incentive for wind power and other forms of renewable energy provided through the Renewables Obligation is funded by the electricity consumer rather than by Government.

ACARE Strategic Research Agenda

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if the Government will implement the programmes recommended by the Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe to meet the environmental targets set out in ACARE's Strategic Research Agenda;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the environmental conclusions, targets and programmes set out in the Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe's Strategic Research Agenda.

Alan Johnson: The Department has been fully engaged in all aspects of the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe's Strategic Research Agenda. The conclusions and targets in the Challenge on Environment are extremely ambitious and demanding and will require major breakthroughs in technology. The DTI has been sponsoring studies in this area as part of the industry's Greener by Design initiative. The targets set for environmental work in the DTI Aeronautics Research Programme are in line with the priorities in the environmental targets in the Strategic Research Agenda and the DTI has programmes underway and in prospect with industry on a range of aerospace environmental technology issues. There are also trans-European programmes on aviation environment issues funded by the European Commission's Framework Programmes with UK participation. Aerospace environmental issues have been recognised fully by the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team in its Interim Report.

Animal Cloning

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the retail sale of products derived from cloned animals.

Alan Johnson: Products produced from cloned animals would fall within the scope of the EC Novel Foods Regulation (EC 258/97).
	The Food Standards Agency is the Competent Authority for this regulation and has policy responsibility for food safety, including GM foods, and reports to Government through Health Ministers.

British Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she estimates the total extra cost will be for each year from 2003 to 2033 arising from the provisions in the Electricity (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 31 January 2003
	The Bill is an enabling measure which will help Government secure its objectives whether or not British Energy deliver their restructuring plan. It does not of itself require expenditure to be incurred.

Broadband (Rural Areas)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives her Department has undertaken to encourage broadband Internet access in rural areas.

Stephen Timms: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) on 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 589W.

Broadcasting Regulations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reason there are different regulations for images accessed (a) through a television broadcast and (b) through a broadband internet connection.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 31 January 2003
	There is no statutory regulator of the internet to which the general law applies. There is greater regulation of television broadcasting because it is a different medium with different characteristics and different audience expectations.

Coal-fired Energy Generation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she has taken in reviewing the Government's long-term energy proposals of the need for coal-fired generation as an effective contribution to UK energy production.

Brian Wilson: The Government is currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper shortly. The review includes consideration of coal-fired generation and its contribution to UK energy production.

Consumer Affairs Council

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the agenda is for discussion for the next meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 28 February.

Alan Johnson: The meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council scheduled for 28 February 2003, is no longer taking place. The next meeting is on 6 March 2003; the agenda has not been confirmed.

Electricity Industry

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 367W, on the electricity industry, why Modification P95A to the Balancing and Settlement Code was rejected; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Modification P95A to the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC) was rejected by the BSC Panel on 16 January 2003. The panel's recommendation has now gone to the authority (Ofgem), who will make a final decision on their implementation on the basis of the BSC Objectives and their wider statutory obligations.
	The reasons for the panel's rejection are explained in full in the Final Modification Report: Modification Proposal P95—Transitional Amelioration of Barriers to Licence Exempt Generators' Market Participation, prepared by Elexon on behalf of the BSC Panel, January 2003. This document is publicly available on the Elexon website at http://www.elexon.co.uk/ta/modifications/mods—docs.html.

Correspondence

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Leominster of 12 November 2002, on behalf of Mr. Andrew Stobart, concerning electricity supply security.

Brian Wilson: A response was sent to this letter on 25 January 2003.

Mains Gas Network

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes in mainland Britain cannot have access to the national mains gas network; and what percentage of the population this represents.

Brian Wilson: Approximately 4.5 million households in Great Britain, about 20 per cent. of the total, do not have, or take advantage of, a connection to the mains gas network.

Ministerial Travel

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of the total expenditure by her Department on ministerial travel (a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

New Nuclear Technologies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to refuse licences for new nuclear technologies.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 31 January 2003
	No.

Power Plants (Desulphurisation Technology)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to support flue gas desulphurisation technology in power plants.

Brian Wilson: There are currently no plans to support flue gas desulphurisation technology in power plants.

Power Plants (Desulphurisation Technology)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she has taken to encourage coal burn in power plants equipped with sulphur dioxide abatement equipment.

Brian Wilson: Sulphur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generators are controlled through limits placed on the amount which can be released. The Environment Agency encourages generators to construct new flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment by allowing coal-fired generators, building a new FGD plant, an increase in their limit.
	These increases are allowed for the two years in which the FGD is under construction. This provides the operator the opportunity to increase the utilisation of his plant in that period.
	The agency encourages more intensive use of FGD once constructed. Where a generator takes all practicable steps to ensure that the operating load factor of its FGD units is at least twice the factor for unabated units, the agency will grant an increase in their limit.

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when (a) the Export Credits Guarantee Department's and (b) British Trade International's service delivery agreements for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

Patricia Hewitt: The Export Credits Guarantee Department produces a service delivery agreement (SDA) for each year, rather than for the period 2003–06. Its SDA for 2002–03 is currently available on its website and it expects to publish its SDA for 2003–04 in April 2003.
	British Trade International's SDA is being finalised and will be published on its website shortly.

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when her Department's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

Patricia Hewitt: We are currently finalising the DTI's service delivery agreement for April 2003 to March 2006. I expect it to be published on the Department's website within the next month.

Steel Production

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the level of production of steel in the UK in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Crude Steel Production in the United Kingdom -- Thousand tonnes
		
			 Year Crude Steel Production 
		
		
			 1997 18,501 
			 1998 17,315 
			 1999 16,298 
			 2000 15,155 
			 2001 13,543 
			 2002 11,668 
		
	
	Source:
	Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau

Wind Energy

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies the Government have made into the savings in greenhouse gases in respect of wind energy produced by onshore wind turbines.

Brian Wilson: The Government's Inter-departmental Analysts Group, comprising officials from DTI, DEFRA, the former DTLR, Treasury and the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) of the Cabinet Office published in February 2002 the report "Long-Term Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the UK". (The report is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/greenhousegas/index.shtinL). The report assessed the potential carbon savings from onshore wind in 2025 and 2050. The PIU Energy Review (http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation/2002/energy/report/index.htm) also assessed the potential carbon savings for onshore wind in 2020 and 2050.
	We are taking forward the work of the Inter-departmental Analysts Group and the PIU Energy Review, as part of the analysis for the forthcoming Energy White Paper, which will be published shortly.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Budget

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Departmental budget for each year since its creation.

Alun Michael: The information requested is as follows:
	2001–02: £2,959,389,000
	2002–03: £2,458,720,000
	The figure for 2001–02 was higher than the figure for 2002–03 because of the high level of expenditure on foot and mouth disease.

Farmers (North West)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support and assistance she is able to provide to farmers in the North West; and what grants are available for farmers in the North West for diversification.

Alun Michael: In addition to the support provided by the Common Agricultural Policy production-based subsidies, £1.6 billion has been made available to farmers and the rural community through the 10 schemes which make up the seven year England Rural Development Programme launched in 2000.
	A wide range of assistance is available, including financial incentives for managing and enhancing the environment, support for the production of organic and energy crops, and funding skills training for farmers.
	Defra actively encourages farmers to widen their business base in order to develop new sources of income. The Rural Enterprise Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant provides financial assistance for farmers seeking to pursue good quality, sustainable farm diversification projects, in addition to other broader farm-based and rural community activities.
	From September 2001 the Department has also offered assistance in the form of free planning consultancy advice to farmers who intend to pursue a viable diversification project through the Rural Enterprise Scheme.
	The support provided to farmers in the North West mirrors that provided elsewhere in England.

Flood Defences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking on producing flood plain maps that take into consideration existing and planned flood defences.

Elliot Morley: The Department is fully aware that current indicative flood plain maps provided by the Environment Agency do not differentiate between areas that have defences and those that do not, nor between different standards of defence. The first generation of the indicative flood plain maps was designed to influence the planning process and support initiatives to raise awareness of flooding to those living in flood risk areas. The Department is working with the Environment Agency to develop a second generation of these maps that will enable a more realistic representation of actual flood risk, taking full account of the presence and condition of defences, on flood risk maps. This is difficult to achieve on a consistent basis for the whole country but the aim is to publish such maps towards the end of 2003. In subsequent years these maps will be the subject of continuing improvement as the quality of data and techniques of data analysis improve.

Paper Supplies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the suppliers are of her Department's (a) paper and (b) paper products.

Alun Michael: The current suppliers of the Department's paper and paper products are:
	Premier Paper
	Guilbert
	21C
	Talkpaper (Modo)
	Banner
	MG Print
	Antalis (Wiggins Teape)
	James McNaughton
	Robert Home
	Howard Smith Papers

Public Service Agreement

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department will publish efficiency targets for each year from 2003 for each business area in the Department, as specified in the technical note to the 2002 Spending Review Public Service Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Over the next three financial years (2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06) Defra is committed to make efficiency savings of £16/38/85 million pounds. In order to achieve these savings, each Defra division must make, efficiency gains of at least 3 per cent. year on year. The balance of the efficiency savings is expected to accrue from the successful completion of a number of large-scale departmental wide projects.

Rural Payments Agency

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to resolve the issue of delayed payments from the Rural Payments Agency due to Mr. Peter Taylor of Preesall referred to in a letter from the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre of 15 January.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency has investigated Mr. Taylor's case and has confirmed that the bovine subsidy claims which are due for an advance payment have either been paid or are being processed for payment. Also, Mr. Taylor has just been paid under the Arable Area Payments Scheme.
	Mr. Taylor's payments under the bovine schemes had initially been delayed due to the need to resolve anomalies discovered while cross checking the details of his claimed animals against information held on the Cattle Tracing System (CTS) database operated by the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS). Following further investigation I am pleased to confirm that these have now been satisfactorily resolved thus allowing payments to be made.

Special Advisers and Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers have been employed by her Department in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and at what cost in each year.

Alun Michael: Defra as a Department did not exist prior to June 2001.
	(a) As has been published on previous occasions, the overall number and cost for Special Advisers across all Departments are:
	
		
			 Year Number Cost (£ million) 
		
		
			 1995–96 38 1.5 
			 1996–97 38 1.8 
			 1997–98 70 2.6 
			 1998–99 74 3.5 
			 1999–2000 78 4.0 
			 2000–01 79 4.1 
			 2001–02 81 5.1 
		
	
	In order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned it would not be appropriate to break down the cost by Department. As at 21 January 2003 there were 81 special advisers across all Departments. The cost for 2002–03 is not yet available.
	(b) In March 2002 there were 21 press officers employed in the Defra press office, including the head of news.
	The cost of the Defra permanent press officers for the 10 months of June 2001 to 31st March 2002 was £887,000. Figures are not yet available for the current financial year (2002–03).
	Retrospective information on the press officers employed prior to June 2001, by the Home Office, the former DETR and MAFF press offices on policy subjects now covered by Defra would be disproportionately costly to produce.

TREASURY

Barnett Formula

Dave Watts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has for replacing the Barnett Formula as a method of distributing public expenditure;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to review the Barnett Formula.

Paul Boateng: The Government have no plans to review the Barnett formula. The Government's funding policies for the devolved Administrations were set out in the updated Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury on 15 July 2002.

Business Investment

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of levels of investment of businesses in (a) the services sector, (b) the financial sector and (c) the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: In 2001, the latest full year for which statistics are available, current price business investment was £80.2 billion in private services and £16.8 billion in manufacturing. A similar comparison is not available for financial services. A full assessment of business investment developments and prospects will be published in the forthcoming Budget report.

Capital Modernisation Fund

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place evaluation reports for completed Capital Modernisation Fund projects in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: It is a requirement of receiving funding from the Capital Modernisation Fund that Departments have robust arrangements for implementing, monitoring and evaluating projects. It is the responsibility of individual Departments to determine the evaluation arrangements that operate for each project.

Capital Modernisation Fund

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of allocations from (a) round one, (b) round two, (c) round three, and (d) the first tranche of round four of the Capital Modernisation Fund are classified in the national accounts as capital spending; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Capital Modernisation Fund provides capital funding for innovative projects which will deliver genuine improvements in public services. For that reason, the majority of funding provided will score as capital in national accounts. Where the funding scores as current expenditure, for example because a PFI procurement route represents best value for money, that is properly accounted for in departmental budgets and accounts, and in national accounts.

City Job Losses

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect job losses in the City of London have on the employment market in (a) Greater London, (b) the south-east of England and (c) the UK; and if he will place the results of his research in the Library.

Ruth Kelly: The Office for National Statistics does not produce employment statistics for the City of London. However there is a range of sectoral, regional and sub-regional labour market data that the Treasury regularly monitors. Although we are aware that there have been a number of recent job losses in the London financial services sector, in the year to November 2002, employment rose by 31,000 in the London region, by 19,000 in the South East region and by 107,000 across the UK as a whole.

Delivery Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the permanent secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit;
	(2)  when Ministers from his Department last met with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings;
	(3)  what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets;
	(4)  how many reports his Department has been commissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months;
	(5)  when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the unit;
	(6)  which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by members of the Delivery Unit;
	(7)  which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 have been cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit;
	(8)  how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001;
	(9)  if he will list the reports which he has made since June 2001 to the Delivery Unit.

Paul Boateng: The work of the Treasury does not come within the Delivery Unit's remit.

Equitable Life

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what recent discussions Ministers and officials have had with Lord Penrose concerning Equitable Life;
	(2)  what recent discussions Ministers and officials have had with the Parliamentary Ombudsman concerning the FSA's regulation of Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: The inquiries by both Lord Penrose and the Parliamentary Ombudsman are being conducted independently of the Treasury.
	The Treasury has continued to co-operate fully with both Lord Penrose and the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Equitable Life

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of policy holders affected by the problems at Equitable Life;
	(2)  what recent discussions Ministers and officials have had with the Financial Services Authority concerning Equitable Life.

Ruth Kelly: The management of Equitable Life is a matter for the Board of the Society. The FSA has been working with Equitable Life to ensure that clear and appropriate information is available to policyholders, and that the Society continues to give adequate support to its policyholders.
	There are regular discussions between the Treasury and the FSA on a variety of issues.

Euro

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 54W, on the euro, when the Treasury will next update its estimate; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury has regularly commissioned surveys tracking the level of euro preparations among businesses for dealing with the euro as a foreign currency. The results of the most recent survey will be published shortly and be available on the Treasury's euro website (www.euro.qov.uk).

Euro

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 411W, regarding the euro, whether he has commissioned additional studies since 6 September 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many background studies are being or have been undertaken in respect of the five economic tests for assessing the UK's possible entry into the euro; who is undertaking each of the background studies; and which studies are being undertaken by persons or organisations outside the Treasury.

Ruth Kelly: The 6 September Paper for the Treasury Select Committee made clear
	"the preliminary and technical work ... continues to evolve to take account of the latest technical research and analysis".
	The supporting studies will be published alongside the assessment of the five economics tests.

Financial Advertising

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what change the Financial Services Authority plan to make to the public complaints procedure for financial advertisements;
	(2)  what plans the Financial Services Authority has to make changes to the public complaints procedure for financial advertisements.

Ruth Kelly: The Financial Services Consumer Panel wrote to the Financial Services Authority (the FSA) on 20 January about their concerns about the disclosure of information where members of the public make complaints about financial promotions. I am told that the FSA replied to the Consumer Panel on 23 January.
	The FSA tell me that they are committed to intensifying its efforts to reduce the number of unclear and misleading financial promotions. They have introduced various initiatives to make it easier for consumers to complain about financial promotions and they have given publicity to those measures. To help consumers understand their approach, and the actions they take, they have introduced an online bulletin and they will be publishing statistics to report on their work in this area.
	The information they receive from consumers is combined with intelligence from other sources and from their own monitoring activities. Where they deem it appropriate they act, normally through the supervisory process, to ensure that advertisements are changed or withdrawn. Where serious problems arise, they already require firms to contact customers directly to correct possible misunderstandings and to offer appropriate restitution.

Financial Advertising

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what response his Department will give to the call by the Financial Services Consumer Panel on 24 January for a review of the law on financial advertising;
	(2)  what response he will make to the Financial Services Consumer Panel on its proposals for a review of the law on financial advertising.

Ruth Kelly: We are considering the issues raised by the Financial Services Consumer Panel.

Gold Disposals

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average price received was during HM Treasury's recent programme of gold disposals.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested by the right hon. Gentleman can be found in Table 2 of the Treasury's Review of the Sale of Part of the UK Gold Reserves (dated October 2002). Copies of this document have been place in the House of Commons' Library and is also available on the Treasury's website—http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//9EFEF/GoldReserves.PDF.

House Market Volatility

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the links between macroeconomic and housing market volatility; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: As set out in the "Paper for the Treasury Committee on the Treasury's approach to the preliminary and technical work", published on 6 September 2002, a number of supporting studies will be published alongside the assessment of the five economic tests. One of these will assess the behaviour of the housing market, and its impact on consumption. Further detail can be found in the 6 September paper.

Income Drawdown Policies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures his Department has taken to ensure that consumers are given adequate warnings about the risks associated with income drawdown policies.

Ruth Kelly: Sales of income drawdown (also known as income withdrawal) products are regulated in the same way as the sale of other investments. Under the Financial Service Authority's rules, an adviser is required, as part of the sales process, to establish that the product is suitable and that the customer understands and is content with any investment risks involved. The Financial Services Authority also publishes, as part of its consumer education programme, information on income withdrawal products, which is designed to help consumers understand these products and explain the risks involved.

Inland Revenue

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the latest value of Inland Revenue total fixed assets, broken down by (a) land, (b) buildings and (c) other assets; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The net book value of land and buildings in the latest consolidated audited accounts as at 31 March 2002 is £4.7 million.
	This figure comprises £0.1 million for land, £0.1 million for buildings and £4.1 million in respect of refurbishments, from the accounts of the Valuation Office Agency.
	The remaining £0.4 million represents the combined net book value of land and buildings in the accounts of the Inland Revenue.
	The net book value of other assets as at 31 March 2002 is £479.4 million.

Insurance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 412W, on insurance, what plans he has to discuss the development of a new insurance standard with the International Accounting Standards Board.

Ruth Kelly: The responsibility for developing an international standard on accounting for insurance contracts rests with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The IASB is still developing its proposals for 'Phase 1' on accounting on insurance contracts, which will be issued for public consultation later this year. The Treasury currently has no plans to discuss the proposals with the IASB. The implications of accounting for insurance contracts by UK entities are a matter for the UK Accounting Standards Board (ASB), which is continuing to monitor closely the IASB project. The Treasury has regular contact with the ASB on a range of issues.

Insurance Brokers

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an assessment of the likely impact of the Financial Services Authority assuming responsibility for regulating insurance brokers; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: On 21 October 2002 the Treasury issued a public consultation document entitled "Regulating Insurance Mediation". This sets out in detail the Government's proposals for giving the Financial Services Authority responsibility for regulating insurance brokers. This document includes a draft "Regulatory Impact Assessment" (RIA) of the likely impact of these proposals and seeks views on the content of this draft RIA.

Insurance Brokers

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of insurance brokers regarding the Financial Services Authority's assumption of responsibility for regulating insurance brokers.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury officials have had various meetings with insurance brokers' representatives before and during the public consultation on regulating insurance mediation issued on 21 October 2002. In addition Treasury officials have attended meetings arranged by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the General Insurance Standards Council (GISC) which have included insurance broker representatives as well as making presentations at seminars and conferences aimed at insurers and insurance brokers. Insurance broker representatives have had the opportunity to respond to the Treasury's consultation document "Regulating Insurance Mediation" and the Treasury will take their views fully into account when finalising their proposals.

Landfill Tax

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the landfill tax credit scheme on the economic viability of (a) incineration of waste and (b) recycling and recovery.

John Healey: The Government reviewed the role of the scheme in consultation with key stakeholders last summer and the pre-Budget report announced the decision to reform the scheme from 1 April 2003. Approximately two thirds of the funding currently going though the scheme, under objects C and CC, will be allocated to additional public spending on sustainable waste management. The remainder, around £47 million per year, will be spent on community environmental projects though a successor tax credit scheme. The LTCS reform, by boosting strategic waste management, will help improve recycling and recovery, though any impact on incineration from this specific reform is expected to be very limited.
	The pre-Budget report also announced an increase in the standard rate of landfill tax from the year 2005–06 by £3 per tonne as part of an escalator to a medium to long term rate of £35, which helps to make alternatives to landfill more economically viable. Both measures, the reform of the LTCS as well as the increase in the rate of landfill tax, are in support of our objective of increasing support to sustainable waste management.

Landfill Tax

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will consult on proposals for the landfill tax escalator rate.

John Healey: The Government are currently consulting key stakeholders on options for a revenue-neutral proposal on the landfill escalator, as stated in the pre-Budget report.

Occupational Pensions Survey

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the Government Actuary will publish the full results of the 11th occupational pensions survey 2000;
	(2)  when the Government Actuary expects to publish the full results of the 11th occupational pensions survey 2000.

Ruth Kelly: The Government Actuary plans to publish full results of the 11th occupational pension schemes survey 2000 in spring 2003.

Public Service Agreement

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the money allocated to Departments by HM Treasury is directly dependent upon Departments achieving the targets set in their public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: The money the Government allocates to Departments is determined by a range of factors including performance against public service agreements.

Revenue Qualifying Regime

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to observations from the Association of Friendly Societies on the effect on the savings of those on low incomes of the Government's proposed abolition of the Inland Revenue's qualifying regime.

Ruth Kelly: The Sandler review of the market for medium and long-term retail savings, which was published last July, recommended two changes to the regime for taxing life insurance products. These changes are the abolition of qualifying policies and the replacement of the so-called 5 per cent. tax-deferral rule which applies to withdrawals.
	As we announced in the pre-Budget report, the Government are considering these proposals as part of the Budget process and is discussing their implications with the insurance industry and friendly society movement. I understand that the Association of Friendly Societies has been in frequent contact with Treasury and Inland Revenue officials. These discussions include considering how the Sandier recommendation to abolish the qualifying policy regime for new policies would effect the savings of those on low incomes.

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) HM Customs and Excise's, (b) the Inland Revenue's, (c) the Office for National Statistics', (d) the Office of Government Commerce's and (e) the Government Actuary's Department's service delivery agreements for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

Ruth Kelly: The Office of Government Commerce does not have a separate service delivery agreement; PSA10 in the Treasury's service delivery agreement, published in December 2002, relates to the OGC.
	Service Delivery Agreements for HM Custom's and Excise, The Inland Revenue and the Office of National Statistics will be published by the end of February 2003.
	The Government Actuary's Department's SDA targets are published within GAD's annual departmental report which is planned to be published in April 2003.

Westminster Census

Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exercise his power to ensure a local census is undertaken in the City of Westminster in order to provide a more accurate figure than the 2001 count.

Ruth Kelly: The Government are confident that the 2001 Census provides the most accurate estimate of the population nationally and for each of the 376 local authorities in England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics continues to work closely with representatives from a relatively small number of local authorities, including Westminster, which have raised issues about the Census count in their area. However, to date the Registrar General has seen no evidence to justify conducting a local census in Westminster or in any other local authority area in England and Wales.

TRANSPORT

Airport Policing

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that there is parity of treatment between police forces and airports on the charges forces make to airport operators for providing policing; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Part III of the Aviation Security Act 1982 provides for the designation of airports, where the Secretary of State considers that their policing should be undertaken by constables, and requires airports so designated to make payments to the police authority in respect of their policing, as agreed between the two parties. There are currently nine such designated airports.
	In his recent review of the policing of airports Sir John Wheeler recommended that a new process of designation should be developed, founded on national criteria and agreed local multi-agency risk assessments. This recommendation has been accepted in principle, and Home Office and Department for Transport officials are taking this work forward in concert with the police, industry and other stakeholders.

Light Dues

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning light dues; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: We have received some 150 responses to our consultation on light dues, expressing a wide range of views.

Light Dues

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the impact of light dues on (a) the UK economy, (b) the UK maritime industry and (c) UK ports.
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the assessment he has made of the alternatives to light dues used in other EU member states; and what impact that has had on (a) their individual economies, (b) their maritime industries and (c) their ports.

David Jamieson: We are considering these issues in the light of responses to our Consultation Paper 'Light Dues Review: Meeting the Costs of Marine Aids to Navigation, issued last Summer, on which we plan to make a statement soon.

A14

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the change in freight usage of the A14, by reason of the proposed expansion of the container port at Felixstowe;
	(2)  what plans he has to improve road capacity on the A14, following the announcement of the proposed expansion of capacity at Felixstowe port.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency is aware of the proposed expansion plans for Felixstowe port and the potential the development may have for an increase in freight on the A14. The developer, Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd., is currently consulting with the Agency on the key transport issues that will need to be considered in the development of the proposal. Until such times as the developer has formally submitted an application to the relevant authority to develop the port, and there has been an opportunity to scrutinise the proposal, I cannot offer any comment on the future capacity needs of the A14.

A21 Bypass

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what on-site investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency in surveying the geology of the proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green, with specific reference to the proposed tunnel at Silver Hill;
	(2)  what representations (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency have received concerning proposed plans for the building of an A21 bypass at Hurst Green;
	(3)  what account was taken of previous route proposals for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green during the planning of the current proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green;
	(4)  what previous route proposals there have been for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green; and for what reasons these schemes were withdrawn;
	(5)  what (a) the cost is of and (b) the reasons are for the junction improvements and roundabout installation on the A21 at John's Cross;
	(6)  what investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency to deduce the levels of (a) noise and (b) air pollution that would affect residents living between the current A21 and the proposed bypass route at Hurst Green;
	(7)  how many accidents were recorded on the A21 between (a) Flimwell and Hurst Green, (b) Hurst Green and Robertsbridge and (c) south of Robertsbridge in each year since 1997;
	(8)  what on-site investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency in planning and plotting the proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green.

David Jamieson: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Gregory Barker, dated 3 February 2003
	The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about issues relating to the A21 and the proposed strategy for the improvement of the length south of Pembury to Hastings.
	The investigations undertaken for the proposed strategy have so far been limited to the assembly of existing data such as geological maps and environmental constraints for a desktop assessment. Route alignment has been based on this information, which is the normal level of study for a scheme at this early stage of development. Particular emphasis has been placed on environmental constraints and consequently, in developing the alignment, we have sought to reduce the impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and designated areas of ancient woodland. At the same time we have assessed future traffic patterns and the safety and economic benefits of the proposals.
	No specific ground investigation, air pollution or noise surveys have been undertaken to date, but if a decision is taken to proceed with further development of the route proposals, a comprehensive programme of surveys will be undertaken. The results of the surveys will be taken into account when preparing the Environmental Statement for the scheme which would be published with the draft Orders under the Highways Act.
	Studies for improvement of the A21 at Hurst Green were undertaken in the late 1980s and were concluded in 1993 without any proposals being formally published. The area of the studies extended from just north of Coopers Corner to a point midway between Hurst Green and Silver Hill, which limited the opportunities for a line significantly away from the village. At the same time a scheme for a climbing lane at Silver Hill was being investigated and a public consultation was held in the early 1990s. This scheme was cancelled in 1993 due to constraints on funding.
	During 1996–97 a DBFO package was put forward for the Weald and Downland area which included the A21. There were no major improvements of the A21 proposed south of Lamberhurst Bypass, only minor improvements. This DBFO project was cancelled in 1997 as part of the Government's review of the road programme.
	The current study has examined the whole of the A21 against future needs and modern engineering and environmental standards and therefore supersedes previous studies and proposals. The purpose of the current consultation is to hear the views of all who are interested in the proposals. Where members of the public suggest an alternative alignment we will undertake a review of these to establish whether they have merit. The outcome of these reviews will be included in our submission to Ministers.
	Public consultation on the strategy started on 19 November last year and the last date for submitting comments is 14 February. Public exhibitions were held between December 5 and December 10 at a variety of locations along the A21 with additional venues added on 13 and 17 December at the request of Hastings borough and Hurst Green parish councils. Around 1,500 people attended these exhibitions. To date over 800 prepaid questionnaires, 100 letters and emails have been received by the Agency whilst a further six letters to the Department for Transport have been passed onto us for the comments to be considered. These do not include letters sent directly to you and copied to the Agency. We are examining all these responses in detail before preparing our submission to Ministers.
	The cost of the roundabout installation and junction improvements on the A21 at Johns Cross is £1.5 million. As part of the scheme a new signal controlled pedestrian crossing will be installed to provide a safer means of access to the local school and an improved footpath at New Cut.
	The existing junction layout, together with nearby accesses, is complicated and can be confusing to road users. The accidents recorded on the length affected by the roundabout scheme total 14 injury accidents in five years (2.8 per year). This figure is higher than the national average for accidents at rural junctions of this type (1.11 per year). The installation of a roundabout will reduce traffic speeds and is expected to save one injury accident per year.
	The accident statistics recorded on the A21 between Flimwell and Hurst Green, Hurst Green and Robertsbridge and south of Robertsbridge in each year since 1997 are as follows:
	
		Flimwell to Hurst Green—accidents
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 1997 0 4 5 9 
			 1998 0 4 10 14 
			 1999 1 2 7 10 
			 2000 3 1 4 8 
			 2001 0 4 10 14 
			 Total 4 15 36 55 
		
	
	
		Hurst Green to Robertsbridge—accidents
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 1997 1 3 6 10 
			 1998 0 1 5 6 
			 1999 0 3 12 15 
			 2000 1 0 2 3 
			 2001 0 3 9 12 
			 Total 2 10 34 46 
		
	
	
		Robertsbridge to Hastings (Baldslow Junction)—accidents
		
			  Fatal Serious Slight Total 
		
		
			 1997 1 11 23 35 
			 1998 0 6 28 34 
			 1999 0 8 17 25 
			 2000 1 2 8 11 
			 2001 0 10 25 35 
			 Total 2 37 101 140

Advertising

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advertising is displayed on his Department's website from other Government Departments and agencies; on what other Government Department websites information from his Department is advertised; over what time this advertising has, or will be, displayed; and under what guidance, direction and agreements any such advertising is displayed.

David Jamieson: My Department is taking part in a pilot to promote campaigns across Government websites, in conjunction with No. 10, DFES ODPM, Home Office, HSE, the Office of the E-Envoy and ukonline.gov.uk. Each of these Departments has included two or three campaign promotions into the pilot, which are then rotated across the websites taking part.
	All the campaigns being promoted are from other Government Departments or agencies and follow government accessibility guidelines on online advertising and promotion.
	The pilot commenced on 10 December 2002, and is due to end on 10 June 2003. The campaigns are delivered via Real Media, a third party solution provider.

Air Marshals

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the need for air marshals on aeroplanes, with specific reference to (a) the number stationed on a plane during a flight, (b) the estimated cost of one plane journey with air marshals and (c) domestic flights; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend announced on 19 December 2002 that a capability had been developed to place armed police officers aboard UK civil aircraft, should that be warranted, as a sensible addition to the security measures available for addressing the threat to UK interests and UK aviation. It would not be appropriate to comment on the detail of this new capability.

Air Transport Consultation

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of the National Consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the UK have been issued (a) by hard copy and (b) by website download, broken down by region.

David Jamieson: Estimates of consultation documents (main, summary and questionnaire) by region that have been issued and downloaded from the website up until 30 January 2003 are shown as follows:
	
		
			 Region Number of documents dispatched Number of documents downloaded 
		
		
			 South East of England 184,100 150,600 
			 Midlands 180,200 23,300 
			 South West of England 34,100 19,600 
			 Wales 12,900 5,900 
			 North of England 106,700 16,900 
			 Scotland 28,600 31,700 
			 Northern Ireland 20,700 6,140

Air Transport Consultation

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many completed questionnaires and other responses to the National Consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the UK he has received, broken down by region.

David Jamieson: Estimates of responses received (questionnaires and others) by region that have been received up until 30 January 2003 are shown as follows:
	
		
			 Region Number of completed questionnaires received Number of other responses received 
		
		
			 South East of England 11,290 35,000+ 
			 Midlands 18,140 35,000+ 
			 South West of England 1,110 400 
			 Wales 90 40 
			 North of England 2,760 600 
			 Scotland 890 200 
			 Northern Ireland 130 120 
			 Total 34,410 70,000+

Airports (Midlands)

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the Midlands New Site Option contained within the National Consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the UK: Midlands.

David Jamieson: We have not yet analysed all the responses to the consultation but we will produce a summary after the consultation closes.

British Transport Police

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) prevalence and (b) causes of occupational stress in the British Transport Police.

David Jamieson: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information about absences in the BTP since 1 April 2002:
	
		
			  Mental health(2) Stress(2) 
			  Police officers Support staff Police officers Support staff 
		
		
			 Absences 50 17 21 7 
			 Number of officers/staff 49 17 21 7 
			 Current absences 17 5 7 1 
			 Duty days lost 2,172 4,660 829 172 
			 Percentage of total duty days lost 12 16 5 1 
		
	
	(2) The figures for mental health include those provided for stress.
	The BTP are unable to provide information regarding the causes of occupational stress within the force. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Crime Reduction and Community Safety announced on 31 October 2002 the Governments "Strategy for a Healthy Police Service" with the aims to promote and maintain good health in all police forces, reduce injuries and manage all cases of ill health more effectively. The BTP themselves have a number of strategies regarding the prevention and management of ill health. This includes the provision of 11 internal health managers and advisers. External occupational health providers and counselling services are also available to the force.
	The BTP is currently running a 'Buddy' pilot system scheme where trained BTP volunteers provide a 'first contact' facility to advise and assist staff. The BTP are also evaluating the work of the ACPO Joint Working Group on Health and Safety Welfare.

Car Navigation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures the Department is taking to ensure that (a) commercial in car route management systems and (b) the Highways Agency's variable message signs do not divert motorists on to unsuitable local roads.

David Jamieson: In-vehicle route guidance systems that take account of prevailing traffic conditions ("dynamic systems") require an operator licence under the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 and associated regulations. Licences are only issued if systems meet certain safety and routing design and performance criteria, which include a check that they avoid diverting drivers along unsuitable local roads. Other route guidance systems do not require licensing.
	The Highways Agency's VMS signs are used to assist the police with local incident management and to notify drivers when it is advisable to make strategic long distance diversions. Local diversion routes are devised by the police in collaboration with the local Highway Authority. Long distance diversions are selected from sets of recommended strategies agreed with all involved parties.

Chancery Lane Underground Derailment

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Chancery Lane Underground derailment; and what investigations are taking place into its causes.

David Jamieson: The independent Health & Safety Executive has begun a full investigation into the train derailment at Chancery Lane station on Saturday 25 January, to establish the causes of the incident. Initial indications are that the derailment was caused by a traction motor falling from beneath the train onto the track. London Underground is also conducting its own investigation. A summary of their findings and recommendations will be made public.

Crossrail

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he will respond to the proposal submitted by London Regional Metro;
	(2)  if he has received a costed funding proposal for the SRA/TfL Crossrail project.

David Jamieson: It is premature to determine how best Crossrail may be taken forward or financed until route options have been considered and a business case for the project established.
	The Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London are aiming to report to Ministers on these matters by the end of February.

Driving Licences

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many applications for short period licences were received in 2002; and how many were determined later than (a) one month, (b) three months and (c) six months after the date of application;
	(2)  what the average time in the last year taken to determine applications for short period driving licence renewals was where the medical condition of the applicant had to be considered.

David Jamieson: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's published charter standards for dealing with all applications, where a medical condition has to be considered, are as follows (no separate figures are available for short period driving licences):
	(a) if a decision can be made based on the information originally provided by the applicant, the Agency aims to make a decision on 90 per cent. of cases within 15 working days;
	(b) if further information is needed about the medical condition from the applicant, his doctors or other sources, the Agency aims to make a decision on 80 per cent. of cases within 90 working days.
	The Agency's cumulative performance figure from April 2002 to December 2002 are that for (a) 98 per cent. of cases were cleared within 15 working days and for (b) 81 per cent. of cases were cleared within 90 working days.

Gatwick Airport

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to release the supplementary paper to the National Consultation on the Future of Air Transport in the UK: South East regarding Gatwick; and when he expects the consultation period to close.

David Jamieson: The consultation period, throughout the UK, has been extended until we have consulted on Gatwick runway options. We intend to issue a revised South East consultation paper later this month. The consultation period will then run for four months after the date of publication of the new material. Those who have already responded to the consultation will be able to amend, add to, or replace their response having considered the new material, if they wish to do so.
	All responses to the consultation will be considered and analysed carefully before final decisions are taken. These will be set out in an air transport White Paper, which we aim to publish towards the end of the year.

Hawarden Airport

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) passenger flights and (b) passengers used Hawarden airport in each year since 1995.

David Jamieson: Available data are as follows:
	
		Hawarden airport: 1995–2001(3)
		
			  Passenger flights(4) Terminal passengers(5) 
		
		
			 1995 4 44 
			 1996 3 130 
			 1997 173 1,940 
			 1998 215 3,507 
			 1999 164 2,908 
			 2000 100 2,490 
			 2001 104 2,751 
		
	
	(3) Figures exclude air taxis ie aircraft less than 15 tonnes operating on a non-scheduled service. These are predominantly sole-use charter operations.
	(4) Landings or take-offs.
	(5) Excludes transit passengers ie passengers who arrive at or depart on the same aircraft which is transiting the airport.

Hydrogen Fuel

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many cars have been converted from petrol to hydrogen fuel in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to encourage the fuel conversion of cars from petrol to hydrogen; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what percentage of petrol stations in the UK provide hydrogen fuel; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much has been provided by the Government in grants for converting cars from petrol to hydrogen; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government are committed to promoting the development, introduction and take-up of clean, low-carbon new vehicle technologies and fuels, including hydrogen, where these offer environmental and other advantages over conventional alternatives. Our "Powering Future Vehicles" strategy, published in July 2002, sets out how we will do this, and sets challenging targets for increasing the numbers of clean, low carbon vehicles on our roads.
	The Government's research, development and demonstration programmes include support for hydrogen fuel cell research, funding for the trial operation of hydrogen fuel cell buses in London in 2004, and support for the associated hydrogen refuelling installations. We have also announced our intention to exempt hydrogen from fuel duty for a period to encourage early development and take-up, and have introduced 100 per cent. first-year capital allowances for investments in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
	Hydrogen technologies, however, are still at an early stage of development with many technical challenges to be overcome. There are currently no hydrogen cars on UK roads, and no filling stations selling hydrogen.
	Hydrogen fuelled vehicles, though having zero tailpipe emissions, provide carbon-free transportation only where the hydrogen is produced with non-fossil energy sources. My Department has recently commissioned a number of reports into the long-term future potential of hydrogen and other road fuels. These include a report by Ricardo Consulting Engineers Ltd. ("Carbon to Hydrogen—roadmaps for passenger cars"), and a study carried out by leading experts on energy and environmental matters ("Fuelling Road Transport: Implications for Energy Policy"). These are available via the DfT website.
	Both reports, as well as reviewing hydrogen fuel cell technology, indicate the scope for further substantial and early reductions in conventional cars' fuel consumption and carbon emissions, including hybrid engine technology. The second study also identifies the potential for renewable transport fuel from biomass.

Infrastructure Projects

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of the largest UK infrastructure project funded without Government support since 1973.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 January 2003 Official Report, column 529W.

Leisure Flights (Fuel Consumption)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the fuel consumption, in passenger miles per gallon, of a typically loaded leisure airline flight from London to Orlando; and what programmes the aviation industry has notified his Department of which are designed to reduce CO2 emissions per passenger.

David Jamieson: Data provided by UK charter airlines, assuming a typical aircraft and the latest average Summer load factor on this route, yields an estimate of 100 passenger miles per gallon. My Department is aware of proposals by Air Travel Greener by Design and by the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe (ACARE), both of which include among other objectives the reduction of CO2 emissions.

London Underground

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what statutory body has power, and under what statute, to ensure effective co-operation and liaison between the planned operating companies of the London underground; what personnel have been appointed to such a body; and to whom they will be accountable for their statutory duties and powers;
	(2)  if he will list the public and private network of corporate bodies who form the functional, operational and financial units which from specified dates have been responsible for (a) day to day inspection of rolling stock, (b) routine maintenance, (c) periodic overhaul, (d) upkeep of depots, (e) employment of train crews, (f) track maintenance and (g) signalling and communications on each underground line within the ambit of London Underground Ltd.;
	(3)  what plans have been authorised under statute for bodies to be responsible for staffing, maintenance and safety for multi-line London underground stations served by two or more future distinct operating companies; and which all-line common services and operational activity will remain with a named central body, not being the planned operating companies.

David Jamieson: London Underground Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of London Regional Transport in the public sector, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the London underground.
	Since 2000, three infrastructure companies, operating as subsidiaries of London Underground Ltd., have been carrying out the maintenance and renewal of the underground's physical infrastructure.
	On 31 December 2002 ownership of one of the infrastructure companies (Infraco JNP Ltd.) passed to the privately owned consortium Tube Lines, under the public private partnership (PPP). Ownership of the other infrastructure companies (Infraco BCV Ltd. and Infraco SSL Ltd.) is expected to pass to Metronet, also under the PPP, this spring. Under the PPP, infrastructure companies work for London Underground under 30 year contracts.
	London Underground remains solely responsible for operations on the underground network. The infrastructure companies work under contract to London Underground, which itself retains responsibility for overall safety across the network.

Ministerial Meeting

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) last had an official meeting with the General Secretary and elected officials of NUMAST.

David Jamieson: I last met Brian Orell, General Secretary of NUMAST, on Tuesday 16th April 2002.

Multi-modal Study (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make his decision on the proposal for a guided bus system submitted by Cambridgeshire County Council constituting the public transport element of the Preferred Plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study; and when building work would (a) commence and (b) be completed.

David Jamieson: Cambridgeshire County Council have submitted an application for funding for the proposed guided bus system and this is currently being assessed by my Department. Until this assessment is completed I am unable to provide any further information.

Multi-modal Study (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he plans that the major A14 improvements included in the Preferred Plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study will be (a) carried out at one time or (b) phased;
	(2)  when consultants will be appointed to begin detailed design work on the main A14 highway schemes in connection with the major A14 improvements included in the Preferred Plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study and whether he plans to review alternative forms of (a) design and (b) procurement;
	(3)  for what reasons public consultation on the major A14 improvements included in the Preferred Plan of the Cambridge to Huntingdon Multi-Modal Study had not commenced by 18 January, following the undertaking given by the Minister on 18 January 2002, Official Report, column 493W.

David Jamieson: holding answer 31 January 2003
	The answer given on 18 January, Official Report, column 493W stated that public consultation on the route would be expected within 12 months of the scheme entering the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI). The Secretary of State will reach a decision on TPI entry once he has considered the further work which he asked the Highways Agency to undertake. I cannot give any more details about the way these schemes will be taken forward until he has reached a view.

Parliamentary Questions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the question (ref 92574) from the hon. Member for Vale of York on rail freight and targets.

David Jamieson: I have replied to the hon. Member's question today.

Public Transport (Birmingham)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made to create effective park and ride facilities at Longbridge station in Birmingham.

David Jamieson: Discussions are taking place between Birmingham City council, Advantage West Midlands, MG Rover, St. Modwen Developments Plc and residents with regard to the use of surplus land adjacent to the MG Rover factory for a strategic park and ride site. We will of course consider any proposal as soon as it is passed to us.

Rail Freight

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the target of 80 per cent. growth in rail freight set out in the 10 Year Transport Plan.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority published on Thursday 30 January a new Strategic Plan, which details its plans for achieving the rail freight growth envisaged by the Government's 10 Year Plan for Transport.

Rail Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision of Virgin to withdraw Cross Country services.

David Jamieson: The Cross Country service changes announced on 16 January are designed to improve the reliability and punctuality of services, and reduce overcrowding on key routes, through the redeployment of rolling stock to provide longer trains on some services.
	Out of 175 daily Cross Country trains, 12 trains a day will be withdrawn completely, and a further 20 will be terminated short of their original destination. Cross Country services to most destinations will remain at or above October 2002 levels. These changes will take effect in May 2003.

Rail Services (Birmingham)

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of possible extensions to the Birmingham cross-city railway line to serve Frankley; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) received and pre-qualified an initial bid for Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) funding for this extension. The bid has been further considered with the sponsors but a formal, full bid has not been submitted.

Railway Staff

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by (a) the Office of the Rail Regulator, (b) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, (d) other staff relating to railway matters within the Health and Safety Executive and Health and Safety Commission, (e) the (i) Rail Delivery Directorate and (ii) Railways Restructuring Directorates, or their equivalent, within his Department and (f) British Rail or shadow private companies within the railway industry, for those years where this is applicable (A) in each year since 1992 and (B) projected for future years.

David Jamieson: Staff numbers for the Office of the Rail Regulator, the Strategic Rail Authority, Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive and British Rail are contained in the relevant organisation's Annual Reports. Copies of such reports are routinely placed in the Libraries of the House. Figures for shadow private companies within the rail industry are not collated centrally.
	Figures for my Department's Railways Directorate (or its previous equivalent) are as shown in the following table. Details for 2003–04 are yet to be finalised. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 1 February 2002, Official Report, columns 585–86W, in relation to staff numbers in the Railways Directorate as of June 2001 and February 2002.
	
		
			 Year(6) Railways Directorate 
		
		
			 1992 70 
			 1993 102 
			 1994 107 
			 1995 126 
			 1996 143 
			 1997 85 
			 1998 66 
			 1999 67 
			 2000 64 
			 2001 63 
			 2002 84 
		
	
	(6) As of 1 April.

Railway Stations (Wales)

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway stations in Wales that have opened or reopened since 1 May 1997.

David Jamieson: No new railway stations have been opened in Wales since 1 May 1997. There have been two re-openings following closures to relocate the stations: Wrexham Central and Mountain Ash.

Railways

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the breakdown was of spending in each nation and region in the UK of the 10 year Rail Passenger Partnership Funding programme announced in December 2001.

David Jamieson: Up to January 2003 the Strategic Rail Authority has approved funding under the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme to a total of 87m. The breakdown by each region is as follows:
	
		
			 Schemes by Region—by January 2003 Approved —millions 
		
		
			 All regions 3.0 
			 East Midlands 0.4 
			 Eastern 14.5 
			 London 1.4 
			 North East 1.1 
			 North West 3.5 
			 South East 3.5 
			 South West 10.1 
			 Scotland 2.9 
			 Wales 14.8 
			 West Midlands 4.1 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 27.7 
			 Total (7)87 
		
	
	(7) Million

Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the Government have taken a decision not to proceed with a road scheme which has entered the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

David Jamieson: Since the TPI was established in 1998, there have been no such occasions. A decision on entry to the Targeted Programme of Improvements is only made after a consideration of a proposed scheme using the New Approach to Appraisal, which considers the impact on the scheme under the five headings environment, economy, integration, accessibility and safety. Issues concerning construction and the available finance are also taken into account. However, future progress on schemes is subject to the satisfactory completion of all remaining statutory procedures.
	The A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road was originally included in the TPI on 31 July 1998 but subsequently became the responsibility of the Mayor for London.

Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is Government policy to build the road schemes included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements.

David Jamieson: Yes. Schemes are added to the Targeted Programme of Improvements when Ministers are satisfied that such schemes are necessary, affordable and that their assessment under the New Approach to Appraisal is acceptable. Future progress on schemes is subject to the satisfactory completion of all remaining statutory procedures.

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department's Service Delivery Agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

David Jamieson: Service Delivery Agreements relating to my Department's Public Service Agreement targets will be published later this year.

Sickness Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rate of staff (a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in his Department, its predecessors and each of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport was established following machinery of Government changes in May 2002.
	All cases of absence are taken up and dealt with by line management. Separate information on absenteeism is not available.
	In respect of sickness absence, the most recent "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service" was published by the Cabinet Office and announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002. This covered the calendar year 2001 for the predecessor Department, the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and its executive Agencies. Previous reports go back to 1996. Figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
	The Department is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) target of reducing sick absence by 30 per cent. by the end of 2003 based on a 1998 baseline.
	The Department is committed to managing sick absence effectively and to meeting its Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) target reductions in sick absence by the end of 2003.

Taxi Licences

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were successfully prosecuted for running a taxicab without a taxi licence in each year since 1990; what the average sentence was for first time offenders of this offence; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: In England and Wales, it is an offence to ply for hire without a taxi licence. The penalty for this offence is a maximum fine of Level 4 on the Standard Scale (£2,500). The actual enforcement of this offence is undertaken at a local level, by district/borough councils, unitary authorities or Transport for London, in concert with the relevant police force. Records of such enforcement activity are not kept centrally.

Transport Interchanges (Toilet Provision)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the (a) availability and (b) quality of toilet provision at transport interchanges; and if he will make a statement on the standard of such facilities.

David Jamieson: My Department does not hold information on the availability or quality of toilet provision at transport interchanges. However, we are working with Delivery Agencies to improve travel interchange, including improved facilities.

Unused Rolling Stock

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many newly commissioned (a) engines and (b) carriages lie unused in sidings within the south-eastern rail network, with particular reference to Kent and Sussex.

David Jamieson: There are no trains that have been accepted for passenger service stabled in sidings unused. However there may be units that either have not yet been accepted into passenger service, or are in use for driver training, or are available for to cover for trains that are temporarily out of service maintenance or modifications.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) the levels of deployment to and (b) pattern of activities in Afghanistan of Royal Marines since 2001.

Adam Ingram: 40 Commando provided a company to help secure the airfield at Bagram from November 2001 to October 2002. While not a part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), they provided an initial presence in Kabul to assist ISAF deployment and provide security for the inauguration of the Interim Authority.
	In March 2002, Task Force JACANA deployed. Built around HQ 3 Cdo Brigade and 45 Commando, supported by the Commando Logistics Regiment, it conducted operations to interdict AQ/Taliban and destroy the terrorist infrastructure. On the successful completion of its deployment, it withdrew, with all troops back in the United Kingdom by August 2002.

Anthrax Vaccine

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discovery of phials of anthrax vaccine on beaches in Hampshire and Dorset on 20 January.

Lewis Moonie: The Anthrax vaccine found on the South Dorset coast is from a batch produced by the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research and purchased by the Ministry of Defence in February 2001. Because ampoules from the batch were issued to a large number of units it has not yet been possible to identify how they came to be in the sea. Investigations into the source of the items found are continuing.

Anti-submarine Warfare Helicopters

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Fleet Air Arm anti-submarine warfare helicopters have been taken out of storage for use as troop carriers.

Adam Ingram: Four Sea King Mk 6 Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft, originally due for disposal, are undergoing conversion to support helicopters in order to maintain the Support Helicopter Operating Fleet at required levels during the Sea King Mk 4 Avionics Upgrade Programme (AUP).

Armed Forces (Inoculations)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Army (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF units have been (i) warned to deploy and (ii) deployed for possible operations against Iraq have been given inoculations against biological weapons.

Lewis Moonie: All units warned to deploy and deployed for possible operations against Iraq are included in the voluntary immunisation programme against anthrax. We are expanding the programme, in phases and beginning with units held at the highest readiness, with the aim of making immunisation against anthrax routine for all service personnel. I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 13 June 2002, Official Report, columns 1345–46W, to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt).
	We have announced plans to vaccinate a cohort of specialist medical personnel and nuclear, biological and chemical specialists against smallpox. I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made on 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 60WS. Some of these specialist personnel will be attached to units warned to deploy and deployed for possible operations against Iraq.

Armed Forces (Transport)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many personnel were transported around the United Kingdom by each of the armed forces by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) air, broken down by (i) number and (ii) distance travelled in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much equipment was transported around the United Kingdom by each of the armed forces by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) air, broken down by (i) type of equipment, (ii) weight, (iii) number of items, (iv) volume and (v) distance travelled, in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: The detailed breakdown of personnel and equipment transportation requested is not required for use by the Ministry of Defence. Accordingly, the information is either not held at all or is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if she will list the hon. Members who have completed the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

Lewis Moonie: As at 27 January 2003, 78 hon. Members have completed and passed the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, in the following list, along with the Service with whom they have served. In addition, 20 former Members, 10 Peers and four MEPs have also successfully completed the Scheme.
	
		Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
		
			  
		
		
			 Adam Ingram (L) Army  
			 Adrian Flook (C) Royal Marines 
			 Alan Keen (L) Royal Air Force  
			 Andrew Mackinlay (L) Royal Marines 
			 Andrew Miller (L) Royal Navy 
			 Ann Keen (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Anne McGuire (L) Royal Navy 
			 Anne McIntosh (C) Royal Navy 
			 Austin Mitchell (L) Royal Navy 
			 Bob Russell (LD) Army 
			 Brian Donohoe (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Calum MacDonald (L) Army 
			 Cheryl Gillan (C) Royal Air Force 
			 Claire Ward (L) Royal Marines 
			 Dan Norris (L) Royal Air Force 
			 David Borrow (L) Army 
			 David Crausby (L) Royal Marines 
			 David Drew (L) Army 
			 David Heath (LD) Royal Navy 
			 David Jamieson (L) Royal Marines 
			 David Stewart (L) Royal Air Force 
			 David Watts (L) Army 
			 David Wilshire (C) Royal Navy 
			 Debra Shipley (L) Royal Navy 
			 Dr. John Reid (L) Army 
			 Dr. Julian Lewis (C) Royal Air Force 
			 Dr. Robert Spink (C) Royal Marines 
			 Edward Garnier QC (C) Army 
			 Edward Leigh (C) Royal Navy 
			 Frank Cook (L) Army 
			 Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (C) Royal Air Force 
			 Gerald Howarth (C) Army 
			 Gerald Steinberg (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Gillian Merron (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Gwyn Prosser (L) Royal Navy 
			 Hugh Bayley (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Ian Davidson (L) Royal Marines 
			 Ivan Henderson (L) Royal Navy 
			 James Cran (C) Royal Marines 
			 James Gray (C) Army 
			 Jimmy Hood (L) Army 
			 Jim Murphy (L) Royal Navy 
			 Joan Walley (L) Royal Air Force 
			 John Greenway (C) Royal Air Force 
			 John Home Robertson (L) Army 
			 John McWilliam (C) Royal Marines 
			 John Wilkinson (C) Royal Marines 
			 Jonathan Shaw (L) Army 
			 Kerry Pollard (L) Royal Navy 
			 Linda Perham (L) Royal Navy 
			 Lindsay Hoyle (L) Royal Marines 
			 Lorna Fitzsimons (L) Army 
			 Marion Roe (C) Royal Navy 
			 Mark Todd (L) Royal Navy 
			 Martyn Jones (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Michael Connarty (L) Army 
			 Michael Fabricant (C) Royal Marines 
			 Mike O'Brien (L) Army 
			 Nicholas Winterton (C) Army 
			 Nick Hawkins (C) Army 
			 Nigel Evans (C) Royal Air Force 
			 Paddy Tipping (L) Royal Marines 
			 Paul Keetch (LD) Royal Navy 
			 Peter Bottomley (C) Royal Air Force 
			 Peter Luff (C) Royal Navy 
			 Rachel Squire (L) Royal Navy 
			 Roger Gale (C) Royal Navy 
			 Sandra Gidley (LD) Army 
			 Sir George Young Army 
			 Stephen Hepburn (L) Royal Marines 
			 Stephen McCabe (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Stephen Pound (L) Royal Navy 
			 Syd Rapson (L) Royal Marines 
			 Terry Lewis (L) Royal Air Force 
			 The Right hon. Dr. Gavin Strang (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Tom Cox (L) Royal Navy 
			 Tony Colman (L) Royal Air Force 
			 Tony McWalter (L) Royal Navy

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if she will list the hon. Members who have completed the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and who have reserve liabilities for Operation Fresco.

Lewis Moonie: None. The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme does not have reserve service commitment. Only regular armed forces personnel have been deployed on Operation Fresco.

Army Boot

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been carried out on the standard issue Army boot and its effect on feet.

Adam Ingram: As part of an on-going development programme an extensive range of research (in conjunction with industry and research organisations) has been, and is still being, carried out on the standard issue Combat Assault Boot and its effect on feet. This research is examining aspects such as materials, design, comfort and protection.

Astute Class Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to fill the capability gap arising from the late delivery of the Astute class submarines.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence routinely considers changes to the Defence programme to ensure the required level of capability to meet its current and contingent operations. The Royal Navy is reviewing its plans for meeting the operational requirements of the SSN Flotilla in the light of potential delays to the delivery of the Astute Class. It is still intended that the Astute Class will progressively supersede the existing Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes through a phased replacement programme.

BAE Systems

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was discussed at his meeting with the chief executive of BAE Systems on 22 January.

Geoff Hoon: I regularly hold meetings with senior executives from major defence suppliers. At my meeting on 22 January with the chief executive of BAE Systems, we discussed a range of subjects including the ASTUTE and Nimrod programmes.

Courtesy Calls

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the terrorist threat to the Royal Navy since 2001 has (a) restricted public access to RN warships paying courtesy calls and (b) reduced the number of such calls.

Adam Ingram: There has been no change in policy with regard to public access to Royal Navy ships paying courtesy calls since 2001. Such visits have always been undertaken with appropriate security measures commensurate with the perceived threat. For example, public access to RN ships during some visits to overseas ports has not been permitted following advice from our attaches and host Governments. During 2002 there was a slight increase in the number of visits to both overseas and United Kingdom ports compared with those undertaken in 2001.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies led his Department to take the view that to preserve, sustain and develop essential technical capabilities found in Dstl a critical mass of staff is required that cannot be achieved with the current dispersed organisation; and if he will place copies of the studies in the Library.

Lewis Moonie: The Dstl Main Board believes that the geographical fragmentation of its work force inhibits their ability to build technical excellence and that the dispersion of staff significantly degrades the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation.
	While information technology and advances in communication can aid knowledge sharing, people still need to interact with each other on a regular basis and this is best achieved when they work in the same or adjoining buildings. The career development of staff will also be much easier if Dstl reduces the geographical fragmentation of the organisation as it will be far simpler for people to move between areas increasing their skill base and overall deployability. Dstl has also carried out studies and sought opinions from managers, customers and staff. The results of these studies were summarised in the consultation document issued to trades unions as part of the formal consultation process over Dstl site rationalisation plans. Copies of this document will be placed in the Library.

HMS Fearless

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Fearless was last at sea as an operational vessel.

Adam Ingram: HMS Fearless was last used operationally in Exercise Sea Dagger in February 2002, after which she returned to the United Kingdom on 18 March 2002 to be decommissioned.

Fighting Equipment

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the armed forces indicated when last questioned that they had confidence in their fighting equipment; what percentage of respondents this represents; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Confidence in fighting equipment is not the subject of specific surveys among armed forces personnel but it does feature in some more general surveys. For example, the Army's continuous attitude survey contains a question on confidence in fighting equipment and the latest results are as follows:
	The questionnaire was sent out to 3,978 personnel, 2,037 surveys were returned of which 1,843 people answered the following specific question:
	
		Do you have confidence in your fighting equipment?
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Very unhappy 56 3  
			 Unhappy 264 14.3 
			 Neutral 582 31.6 
			 Confident 831 45.1 
			 Very confident 110 6 
		
	
	Figures represent the total numbers for that response. Figures in brackets are the percentage figures of those responding.
	In the Royal Navy and the RAF questions on this subject are not included in attitude surveys of all personnel but they do feature in surveys of some of those who have decided to leave. The latest details are as follows:
	Royal Navy Officers Notice Option Survey 2000–01:
	The total number of officers surveyed in this survey was 247, of which 174 responded with 165 personnel answering the following question:
	
		Satisfaction with equipment effectiveness?
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Very satisfied 0 0 
			 Satisfied 34 20 
			 Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 75 43 
			 Dissatisfied 42 24 
			 Very dissatisfied 14 8 
		
	
	RAF Airmen and Aircrew Leavers Survey:
	The questionnaire was issued to 4,278 airmen/women. A total of 1,208 questionnaires were completed with a total of 1,190 personnel answering the following question:
	
		How satisfied are you with RAF equipment?
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Very satisfied/satisfied 366 31 
			 Neutral 380 32 
			 Dissatisfied/very dissatisfied 444 37 
		
	
	Note:
	1,190 individuals responded to this question

Firefighters' Dispute

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on pay differentials between Royal Navy personnel engaged on firefighters duties during the present strike and the striking firemen.

Adam Ingram: As the Ministry of Defence is not a party to the national firelighters dispute, no assessment has been made by the Department of any differential between the pay of Royal Navy personnel engaged on Operation Fresco and that of professional firemen. The pay structures for both service personnel and firelighters are in the public domain.

Friendly Fire

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel were (a) killed and (b) injured by friendly fire from US forces in the Gulf War.

Adam Ingram: Nine personnel were killed and 13 wounded by friendly fire from US forces during the Gulf War in two separate incidents.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to commemorate 300 years of British sovereignty in Gibraltar.

Adam Ingram: At this time the Ministry of Defence has no plans to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the capture of Gibraltar in 1704 by British forces, though the Department will undoubtedly consider the matter as and when the Government of Gibraltar raises the subject.

Harrier

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Harrier GR7s have recently been subject to engine problems.

Adam Ingram: Currently, the Harrier GR7 fleet is fitted with the Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mkl05 engine. There have been no recent problems with this engine.

Heritage Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by his Department since May 1997; and if he will list such assets; and if he will estimate the total sales proceeds.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 November 2002, Official Report, columns 326–27W to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Allan). This relates to the disposal of surplus equipment of historical interest, the total proceeds of the items listed being £123,500. Records of similar disposals prior to 2000 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In addition we have disposed of the following historical buildings and sites since 1997:
	Anglesey House and Cottage, Aldershot
	Beaumont Stables and Riding School, Aldershot
	30 Carlton Place, Southampton (TA offices)
	Caslandhill Farm, Rosyth
	Caterham Barracks, Surrey
	Colchester Abbey Gate House
	Ditton Park, Slough
	Duke of York's Barracks, London
	Dreghorn Barracks, Dunalister, Edinburgh
	Farnborough Aerodrome
	Farnborough Factory Site
	Former Mine Watching Establishment, Inchgarvie Island
	Former Maritime Headquarters (part of site), Pitreavie
	Former Naval Base, Rosyth
	Fulford Steading, Woodhouselee
	Gilmore Place, Edinburgh
	Gogarbank Steading, Edinburgh
	Gordon Barracks, Site 31, Aberdeen
	Hanover Street, Edinburgh
	Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness
	Limekilns Road, Dunfermline
	Migilligan Martello Tower, County Londonderry
	Morlich House (The Square), Grantown-on-Spey
	Ness Battery, Stromness, Orkney Islands
	Park Circus, Glasgow
	Ramsay Garden, Edinburgh
	Royal Naval Engineering College, Plymouth (within the College were two Grade 2 listed buildings)
	Royal Army Medical College, Millbank, London
	Royal Terrace, Edinburgh
	Rutland Square, Edinburgh
	St. Leonard's Bank, Perth
	St. Mark's Church Shorncliffe, Kent
	Snowden Place, Stirling
	Strathearn Road, Edinburgh
	Waltham Abbey
	Total proceeds were some £204 million.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines components of the Middle East Task Force will be able to maintain the deployment.

Adam Ingram: We continue to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily, but it is evident that we will not persuade him to do so unless we present him with a clear and credible threat of force. No decision has been taken to commit British forces to military action, nor is such a decision inevitable or imminent. It is therefore premature to speculate about the duration of military deployments or about the rotation or replacement of those forces involved.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the practicability of Iraqi (a) aircraft and (b) missiles using (i) chemical weapons and (ii) biological agents to attack Royal Navy warships;
	(2)  what his latest assessment is of the level of air threat to British naval forces in the Gulf in the event of hostilities with Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The threat to United Kingdom assets is kept under review. I am withholding details of the assessment of threat levels in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which relates to defence, security and international relations.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) chemical and (b) biological weapons have been identified as parts of Saddam Hussein's chemical and biological warfare arsenal since the end of the Gulf War.

Geoff Hoon: The Government's assessment of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was published on 24 September 2002.

John Hall

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an official from his Department attended the inquest of John Hall of Shetland Road, Leicester.

Lewis Moonie: There is no evidence in records that are available that any officials from the Ministry of Defence attended the inquest of John Hall of Shetland Road, Leicester.

John Hall

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement his Department had in the examination of the brain of the late John Hall.

Lewis Moonie: There is no evidence in records that are available that the Ministry of Defence had any involvement in the examination of the brain of the late John Hall.

Media Representatives (Gulf)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements will be put in place for press and broadcast media representatives covering military activities in the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: Arrangements between the media and the Ministry of Defence are conducted in accordance with the details laid out in the Green Book,"Working Arrangements with the Media in times of Emergency, Tension, Conflict or War". This covers the practical arrangements for enabling media representatives to report events both at home and abroad and includes our plans for representative numbers of correspondents to accompany British forces in the frontline. It also outlines the policy that would facilitate or restrict the activities of journalists during operations. A copy of the Green Book is available on the Ministry of Defence website, at www.mod.uk.
	On 17 January, the Director General Corporate Communications wrote to media representatives to inform them of the broad arrangements we intend to put in place in the event of military action. If and when the situation demands, editors will be called forward for fuller briefing on evolving events in order to clarify the detailed working arrangements for inclusion of UK media with our armed forces.
	The above arrangements do not imply that military action is any more likely. It is simply a question of prudent preparation. It remains the case that military action is neither imminent nor inevitable.

Military Bases (Seaward Defence)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the capability of the Royal Navy to mount a seaward defence of British military bases (a) in Gibraltar and (b) in Cyprus following the assembly of the Middle East Task Force.

Adam Ingram: Seaward defence of United Kingdom bases in both Gibraltar and Cyprus is provided in a joint manner, using Maritime, Air and Land assets. The ability to defend British military bases is kept under review. I am withholding details of the capability in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, Security and International Relations).

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flights by (a) his Department's Ministers and (b) other Ministers were made last year using aircraft belonging to his Department; and how many non-scheduled special flights carrying ministers were made in 2002.

Lewis Moonie: Since 1999 this Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
	All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Naval Air Squadrons

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the (a) newest and (b) oldest helicopter airframe in service with (i) 847 NAS, (ii) 846 NAS and (iii) 845 NAS.

Adam Ingram: The newest and oldest airframes in service with 847 NAS, 846 NAS and 845 NAS are as follows.
	
		
			  Newest—in service date Oldest—in service date 
		
		
			 847 NAS   
			 Lynx Attack Helicopter Mark 7 May 1982 as Mark 1, converted to Mark 7 October 1991 June 1979 as Mark 1 converted to Mark 7 July 1998 
			 Gazelle Attack Helicopter Mark 1 November 1980 May 1973 
			 846 NAS   
			 Sea King Helicopter Mark 4 January 1987 June 1980 
			 845 NAS   
			 Sea King Helicopter Mark 4 October 1990 July 1980

Naval Air Squadrons

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what operations (a) 847 NAS, (b) 846 NAS and (c) 845 NAS have been involved in the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The table lists the operations in which (a) 847 NAS, (b) 846 NAS and (c) 845 NAS have been involved in the past five years:
	
		
			 Serial Squadron Operation Date of deployment 
		
		
			 1 847 NAS Palliser 5 May–4 June 2000 
			   Silkman 2–18 November 2000 
			   Agricola 16 November 2000–22 May 2001 
			   Oracle 1 1 November 2001–4 June 2002 
			   Telic 16 January 2003– 
			 2 846 NAS Northern Ireland 1 April 1994–4 March 1999 
			   Northern Ireland 28 June–16 July 1999 
			   Northern Ireland 26 June–14 July 2000 
			   Northern Ireland 23 June–18 July 2001 
			   Northern Ireland 26 March–20 October 2002 
			   Palliser 5 May–4 June 2000 
			   Silkman 2–18 November 2000 
			   Palatine 27 June–10 November 2002 
			 3 845 NAS Palatine 11 November 1992–1 January 2001 
			   Oracle 1 11 November 2001–4 June 2002 
			   Telic 16 January 2003

Non-lethal Weapons

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place with United States military representatives on the development of non-lethal weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has held discussions on non-lethal weapons with United States military representatives bilaterally, multilaterally and in NATO. The United Kingdom considers that non-lethal weapons have potential military uses, where such uses are compatible with international legal obligations. No joint developments of non-lethal weapons with the United States are currently planned. All potential new weapons are subject to stringent review at all stages of the research and procurement process to ensure compliance with the United Kingdom's obligations under international and domestic law.

Ocean Class Commando Carrier

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Ocean is due to undergo her next refit.

Adam Ingram: HMS Ocean recently completed her first docking period at Portsmouth as part of a planned maintenance cycle. Under this maintenance cycle Ocean will undergo a further docking period in about four years and a refit, which is a more substantial package of work, in about eight years time.

Ocean Class Commando Carrier

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to fulfil the landing platform helicopter role when HMS Ocean is not available.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy aircraft carriers have the capability to operate in the Landing Platform Helicopter role as a secondary role, as demonstrated by HMS Ark Royal in her current deployment as part of Naval Task Group 2003.

Operational Capacity

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the capacity of the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Marines to engage in operations other than in the Gulf with the personnel and equipment not despatched to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding details of capability in accordance with Exemption 1 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, Security and International Relations).

Qinetiq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards were built into the partial sell-off of QinetiQ to protect intellectual property rights held by DSTL.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has retained full ownership for Intellectual property that was generated and predominantly used within that part of DERA which became Dstl. QinetiQ has no rights in this intellectual property. Additionally MOD has free rights of continued use for defence and security purposes of the Intellectual Property that was transferred to QinetiQ at Vesting.

Qinetiq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what process was used by his Department to determine the balance of debt and equity in the sell-off of QinetiQ.

Lewis Moonie: When QinetiQ was created as a plc it had to purchase its assets from the Ministry of Defence. The MOD required the company to purchase these with a combination of shares and interest bearing loan notes payable to the MOD.
	The split between debt and equity was made following specialist advice to MOD from its external banking advisors and discussions with QinetiQ senior management.
	In creating a new company it is usual to inject a degree of debt into the capital structure; this ensures that management have the correct incentives to manage cashflow and capital expenditure in a prudent manner.
	As is customary in leveraged transactions the bidder indicated its preferred capital structure for the business. The MOD has sought professional advice at each stage of the process to ensure that the levels of debt and equity are sustainable and will ensure the future financial stability of QinetiQ.

Qinetiq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formula was used by his Department to calculate the value of QinetiQ prior to its partial privatisation.

Lewis Moonie: In order to inform the decision process and the negotiations with potential bidders the Ministry of Defence had obtained valuations for QinetiQ at various stages of the PPP. Prior to the sale MOD's advisors undertook a valuation based on the information provided to potential purchasers in the QinetiQ information memorandum. Their valuation approach was to use two methods, a discounted cashflow analysis and an analysis of comparable trading companies.
	The discounted cash flow was based on the company's financial model and made use of cost of capital estimates provided by advisors.
	The analysis of comparable companies attempted to provide a price for QinetiQ based on other firms in the same sector. QinetiQ is a complex business operating in several different sectors. In order to derive a more accurate view of the overall value the comparison was based on sub-divisions of QinetiQ which were compared to a selection of companies in the same sector.

Qinetiq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was incurred in the sell-off of QinetiQ (a) in consultancy payments by his Department, (b) by DERA, (c) by QinetiQ, (d) by DSTL and (e) by other parties.

Lewis Moonie: The total forecast costs to the Ministry of Defence of consultancy, up to completion, is expected to be £17 million. This covers all stages of the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) Public Private Partnership (PPP), including the detailed options study, public consultation process, vesting of QinetiQ as a plc and completion of the sale of shares in the company.
	The total cost of the PPP falling to DERA was £39.3 million, which includes consultancy costs. The total cost of the PPP falling to QinetiQ through to completion is expected to be £18.7 million, including consultancy fees, information technology and infrastructure costs. The total PPP cost falling to DSTL was £3.3 million, which was mostly infrastructure costs.
	The competition attracted interest from around 40 potential investors. We have no information regarding how much was spent in total by these potential investors throughout the process.

Qinetiq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what formula was used by his Department to calculate the contaminated land liabilities associated with the assets held by QinetiQ; and if he will make a statement on the value put on these liabilities by the Carlyle Group in its investment negotiations.

Lewis Moonie: Responsibility for almost all historic and all future environmental liabilities on freehold sites owned by QinetiQ transferred from the Ministry of Defence to the company on 1 July 2001. Following extensive discussions with insurance advisers and other technical specialists, MOD concluded that there were a small number of uniquely military potential liabilities which could not be transferred on terms which represented good value for money. These potential liabilities, identified in the Departmental Minute laid before Parliament on 8 July 2002, relate to work carried out over many decades by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and its predecessors. This includes work carried out under the conditions of World War 2. Responsibility for these liabilities has always rested with the Ministry of Defence.
	There is no cost-effective method of comprehensively identifying or quantifying these liabilities. MOD and DERA did, however, carry out land quality assessment studies on the properties and examine existing records and claims history. On this basis we conclude that the actual risk of MOD incurring these liabilities is extremely low. The decision to retain these liabilities was taken before the appointment of The Carlyle Group as preferred bidder for QinetiQ and followed advice from external advisers that potential purchasers would either refuse to accept these risks or would demand a substantial and disproportionate reduction in the price paid.

Radio Mast (Lagopatria)

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 209W, when the Italian authorities declined to grant the use of a viable radio frequency from Lagopatria for the British forces.

Adam Ingram: Records relating to the precise date of an approach to the Italian authorities are not held by the Ministry of Defence. MOD officials have been advised by the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), which at the time had lead responsibility, that the approach is thought to have been made in approximately 1994–95. However, SSVC further advise that specific records for that period are no longer held.

Recruitment

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which countries the UK is recruiting personnel for service in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: While employment in the armed forces is open to citizens of Commonwealth countries and Republic of Ireland nationals as well as British citizens, the services do not actively recruit overseas. Over the last three years, however, the Royal Navy and the Army have sent selection teams to some Commonwealth countries (eg Fiji, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines) at the specific request of the Government concerned, and only when evidence suggests that there is sufficient interest among the local population to merit a visit. The selection teams screen out those who are not thought capable of meeting the full entry standards to save applicants the cost of a potentially nugatory trip to the United Kingdom to undergo the recruitment process. All applicants, regardless of nationality, are given equal consideration and all have to meet the same basic entry standards.

Reserve Call-up

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Territorial Army called up for service in the Middle East have not completed their basic training.

Lewis Moonie: As at 30 January 2003, all members of the Territorial Army called up for service under section 54 of the Reserves Forces Act 1996 for operations in the Middle East have completed their basic military training.

Royal Navy Firefighters

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy firefighters are (a) with the task force and (b) on each ship; what the required number is of firefighting personnel on each ship; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 327W, to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond). Royal Navy vessels do not sail without a full complement of damage control and fire-fighting capabilities and that level of support varies from ship to ship. Fire-fighting is not however an individual specialisation. All Royal Navy personnel are trained to fight fires. This training includes training in the use of safety equipment, breathing apparatus and damage control. The level of that training is appropriate to the role they will fulfil at sea. In addition, on each ship, there will be individuals qualified to provide training in fire-fighting. Each ship in the Royal Navy is fully equipped and has the trained personnel to deal with fire hazards. This capability is regularly tested by means of fire-fighting drills.

Royal Navy Ships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason HMS Fearless was withdrawn from service prior to HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark entering service.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 March 2002, Official Report, column 3 to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin), and to the answer given on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 714W to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray).
	Pursuant to these answers, HMS Albion has commenced contractor sea trials and is expected to enter service with the Royal Navy by July 2003. Following operational training, she should be available for tasking in October 2003. The programme for HMS Bulwark is still under discussion with the contractor, but the current expectation is that she will enter service by the end of next year.

Royal Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is supplied from ROF Chorley; and what the length is of each contract.

Adam Ingram: Tube Vent Electric L4 are supplied to the Ministry of Defence from RO Chorley as part of a contract with RO Defence which has recently been extended to 31 March 2006. RO Chorley also supply initiating devices. In-service surveillance and proof activities work is undertaken at the proof yard facility at RO Chorley. This contract is due to expire at the end of March 2003 but negotiations are taking place with a view to extending this.

S-type Contracts

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers in the last 10 years have been employed on an S-type contract, broken down by (a) reason, (b) regiment, (c) those still serving on S-type contracts and (d) rank.

Lewis Moonie: The number of soldiers in the last 10 years employed on an S-type engagement, broken down by regiment/corps and rank, and indicating those still serving are shown in the table.
	The reasons for soldiers being employed on an S-type engagement are not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	A breakdown by rank for corporal and above is not given because this could identify individuals and breach disclosure and confidentiality policy. The information is therefore being withheld under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Privacy of an individual). A breakdown within the RAC, AMS, some infantry regiments and some smaller corps is not given for the same reason. These are shown as single line entries for the RAC and AMS, under others for the smaller corps and line entries for each division of infantry to cover those regiments and former regiments within the division not listed separately.
	
		
			 Regt/corps Private Lance corporal Corporal and above Still serving 
		
		
			 H CAV 8 4 5 2 
			 RAC 6 3 50 70 
			 RA 9 38 60 38 
			 RE 63 20 44 41 
			 R Signals 37 34 95 68 
			 Welsh GDS 76 20 36 6 
			 Other GDS div 50 14 32 42 
			 Royal Scots 40 6 7 28 
			 Kings Own Scottish Borderers 41 7 11 22 
			 Black Watch 12 5 8 14 
			 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 19 15 14 15 
			 Other Scots div 40 7 16 25 
			 Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 37 14 29 31 
			 Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 48 10 26 29 
			 Royal Anglian 20 11 37 44 
			 Other Queens div 12 1 2 3 
			 Kings Own Royal Border regt. 25 6 8 17 
			 Kings regt. 7 9 9 13 
			 Green Howards 36 13 11 20 
			 Queens Lancashire regt 33 15 17 12 
			 Other Kings div 25 11 18 22 
			 Devonshire and Dorset regt. 16 9 11 18 
			 Royal Glocs., Berks and Wilts regt. 12 10 11 9 
			 Worcs. and Sherwood Foresters regt. 28 5 10 10 
			 Staffordshire regt. 27 7 7 7 
			 Other Prince Of Wales's div 66 17 16 21 
			 Light Division 89 35 70 74 
			 R Irish 429 189 309 426 
			 Para 104 23 32 39 
			 SAS 0 0 33 18 
			 RLC 123 94 125 121 
			 AMS 89 18 35 20 
			 REME 18 27 100 78 
			 AGC 12 39 155 90 
			 Others 2 0 6 6 
			 Totals 1,798 764 1,455 1,499

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the food that is being sent to the Gulf with (a) the Naval Task Force and (b) the land forces deployment by (i) type, (ii) quantity and (iii) cost; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The type of food being sent to the Gulf in support of British Forces is a mixture of Operational Ration Packs and fresh food. I am withholding the quantity in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations. Costs are not yet available as the bulk of our force has not arrived in the region and the military feeding plan is not sufficiently mature to generate meaningful data.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of providing United Kingdom military forces and medical auxiliaries deployed to the Gulf with prophylactic measures against (a) chemical and biological weapons and (b) insects.

Lewis Moonie: The United Kingdom armed forces have available to them a range of prophylactic measures to protect against chemical and biological weapons and insects. Because of the range of measures available and the fact that they are not specific to the deployment of personnel to the Gulf, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what help is being given to companies that are supplying the uniform for the troops on deployment to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: Under normal circumstances the Senior Commercial Officer is the initial point of contact within the Defence Clothing (DC) organisation for all contractor inquiries. He provides information on how the Ministry of Defence procures and the processes applicable. For the current deployment the Defence Clothing organisation has established a small operational cell to assist contractors in the delivery of clothing requirements. This cell provides a link between contractors and other Agencies within the defence supply chain.
	Since the Defence Clothing organisation uses reputable contractors, many of whom have done business with the MOD before, the channels of communications are well known and the types of support available are well established.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of uniforms procured for troops deployed to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: The total cost approved to date for clothing and related items of personal equipment required for troops deployed to the Gulf, in addition to that already held in stock, is approximately £22 million, although the actual figure spent could be less.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (1) he expects desert (a) jackets, (b) trousers, (c) boots and (d) helmets to be delivered to troops deployed to the Gulf.

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (2) when the new uniforms are due to be delivered to troops deployed to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: Troops deploying to the Gulf will be issued with the full desert clothing ensemble in time for any potential operations.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what uniform in addition to the standard issue is being ordered for use by troops deployed to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: In addition to standard issue items, troops will be issued with a full desert ensemble (listed as follows) covering all required elements of head-to-toe protection. Service personnel are issued with the clothing appropriate to the environment in which they are required to deploy.
	Clothing:
	Desert Field Jacket (plus hood), Desert Lightweight Jacket and Trousers, Desert Hat, Face Veil, Sweat Rags, Warm Weather T-Shirt, Warm Weather Socks, and Desert Combat Boots.
	Nuclear:
	Biological and Chemical: Suits, Boots, Gloves, Canisters and Respirators.
	Enhanced Combat Body Armour:
	Cover, Filler and Plates.
	Other items:
	Operational Travel Bag, Lightweight Sleeping Bag, Cotton Sleeping Bag Liner, Personal Load Carriage Equipment Cover, Mk 6 Helmet Cover, Goggles, Sun Glasses, Sun Cream and Mosquito Net.

Service Personnel (Gulf)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what socks supplied for use by the Army are being modified for use by troops deployed to the Gulf.

Adam Ingram: A Warm Weather Sock, designed specifically for use in hotter climates, is being procured for troops deploying to the Gulf. None of the existing socks are being modified.

Survey Ships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Navy (a) paid off each of its ocean and coastal survey ships and (b) brought into full operational service HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy has not paid off each of its ocean and coastal survey ships, but has decommissioned one ocean class (HMS Herald, commissioned in 1974) and two coastal class (HMS Bulldog and HMS Beagle, both commissioned in 1968) survey ships during financial year 2001–02. Two replacement, and considerably more capable, coastal survey ships (HMS Echo and HMS Enterprise) are currently scheduled to enter service in May 2003 and December 2003 respectively.

Swiftsure Class Submarines

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status is of each of the Swiftsure class submarines; and when each is expected to be paid off.

Adam Ingram: The specific operational status of each submarine is classified for security reasons and is being withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The planned operational decommissioning dates for the Royal Navy's Swiftsure submarines are as follows.
	
		
			  Submarines 
		
		
			 2003 HMS Splendid 
			 2005 HMS Sovereign 
			 2006 HMS Superb 
			 2006 HMS Spartan 
			 2010 HMS Sceptre

Tanker Vessels

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Navy (a) paid off each of the O-class RFA tankers and (b) brought into full operational service their Wave-class replacements.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy decommissioned two O-class RFA Fleet tankers during financial year 2000–01: HMS Olwen (commissioned in 1965) and HMS Olna (commissioned in 1966). Of their Wave-class Auxiliary Oilers (AO) vessel replacements, HMS Wave Knight is expected to enter service in February 2003 and HMS Wave Ruler in March 2003.

Terrorism

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the terrorist threat to (a) Royal Navy and Royal Marines recruitment offices and (b) Royal Navy and Royal Marines museums since September 2001.

Adam Ingram: The assessment of threats to all establishments connected with the armed forces is kept under constant review. Royal Navy and Royal Marine careers office managers and the directors of our museums are kept aware of threat assessments and precautions are taken accordingly.

Type 23 Frigate

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will fit Goalkeeper or Phalanx systems to Type 23 frigates.

Adam Ingram: Anti-Ship Missile Defence and Close in Weapon Defence for Type 23 is provided by the Vertical Launch Seawolf missile system and close-range guns, and we are currently considering a programme to provide self-defence to surface vessels by enabling them to identify, engage and defeat small enemy craft. However, physical constraints preclude fitting Goalkeeper or Phalanx to Type 23s.

Uniforms (Procurement)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposed improvements to uniforms issued to HM forces are being studied by the Defence Procurement Agency.

Adam Ingram: We constantly strive to improve service clothing. All of the latest improvements that have reached maturity have been incorporated into the orders that have been placed for contingency preparations for the Gulf. The Defence Logistic Organisation and not the Defence Procurement Agency are responsible for the procurement and management of clothing.

Uniforms (Procurement)

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for future strategy on the procurement of uniforms for HM forces.

Adam Ingram: The Equipment Capability Customer organisation is responsible for the future strategy on the procurement of operational clothing. The Defence Clothing Joint User Working Group, in consultation with the single-Service Dress Committees, has responsibility for the strategy on the procurement of parade and ceremonial uniforms.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Reception Centres

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what due diligence was carried out on the company Accommodata, which is to operate the refugee and asylum reception centre at the Coniston Hotel; when NASS signed a contract with them; who owns Accommodata; under what jurisdiction they are based; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is part of the Home Office and all its procurement exercises are undertaken in accordance with standard Government procurement rules. As part of the procurement process checks were made on the capability and suitability of Accommodata, a UK-based limited company. A contract for use of rooms at the Coniston Hotel was signed on 11 December 2002.

Asylum Reception Centres

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions NASS has had with the owners of the Coniston Hotel about its plans for a refugee and asylum reception centre.

Beverley Hughes: There have been no discussions between the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) and the current owners of the Coniston Hotel. NASS has entered into a contract with Accommodata to provide up to 111 bedspaces at the hotel.

Asylum Reception Centres

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what undertakings the Home Office gave to Kent county council with respect to agreeing not to open further refugee and asylum reception centres.

Beverley Hughes: In 2000 we agreed that Kent would not be a dispersal area for asylum seekers. Since 2000 asylum seekers have been housed in emergency accommodation in Kent whilst their applications for support (including accommodation) were processed. The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) have not given any undertakings to Kent county council that it would not open any additional emergency accommodation nor any induction centres which are planned as the replacement for emergency accommodation.

Asylum Seekers

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people formerly resident in the Sangatte camp have been given permission to enter the UK since the closure of the camp.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 182W.

Asylum Seekers

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum claims received a decision within two months in the last period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The latest provisional data indicate that 77 per cent. of applications 1 , 2 received in April to June 2002 had initial decisions reached and served within two months 3 . The corresponding figure for 2001–02 was 60 per cent. Information on asylum applications is published quarterly. The next publication will be available from the end of February 2003 on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	1 A-CID database as at 1 November 2002.
	2 Excludes withdrawals and third country cases which may be the responsibility of other EU member states under the terms of the Dublin Convention. Home Office's Public Service Agreement target for 2001–02 was 60 per cent. and for 2002–03 is 65 per cent. Details of Government targets relating to the proportion of decisions served within two months are provided in the 2000 Spending Review Public Service Agreements White Paper available from .
	3 "Two months" is defined as 61 days, "Four months" is defined as 122 days, "Six months" is defined as 183 days.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list hotels and guesthouses in Horley, Surrey which are providing accommodation to asylum seekers; how many individuals are accommodated in each case; and what their country of origin is.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 30 January 2003
	The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not currently accommodate any asylum seekers in hotels in Horley. NASS does not have a central record of hotels used by local authorities providing housing for asylum seekers.

Caythorpe Court

Douglas Hogg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham in the next three days in order to discuss Home Office plans to use Caythorpe Court as an emergency centre for asylum seekers.

David Blunkett: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to my letters of 28 and 29 January 2003.

Child Pornography

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with banks and credit card companies to request (a) that they proactively seek out child pornography sites, (b) that they take action to prevent their credit cards and other financial facilities being used to pay for child pornography and (c) that they report the details of customers who attempt to pay for internet child pornography by credit card to the police.

Hilary Benn: Those who view child pornography, particularly those who pay to do so, should be clear that they fuel the demand for those images. This demand undeniably leads to actual abuse of children, sometimes as young as four or five, in the United Kingdom and abroad.
	The payment card companies have been working on this issue for some time and work closely with the police. More recently, they have begun dialogue with the Children's Charities Coalition for Internet Safety, which they hope will lead to a joint statement. In addition, the use of payment cards in relation to child pornography is an area United Kingdom and overseas police are focussing on as a means of investigating those who supply and those who consume child pornography.
	The answer to my hon. Friend's specific questions are as follows:
	(a) The International Card Schemes, on behalf of the wider banking industry, monitor websites working together with law enforcement agencies around the world. In particular, Visa has a unit which scans the internet to identify websites that accept credit or debit cards and contain child pornography.
	(b) United Kingdom financial institutions that provide facilities to merchants take precautions to ensure they do not do business with merchants distributing illegal material. If they discover that a merchant is engaged in such business, they terminate the relationship and contact law enforcement.
	(c) Normally it will not be apparent from the information received by the card issuers that the transaction relates to illegal business. However, where a card issuer becomes aware that a customer has been conducting illegal business using their card, they will alert law enforcement. The card issuers also fully co-operate with the police when approached for information or assistance.
	Co-ordinated action by the major credit card schemes can have a major impact on the commercial trade in child pornography, but this can only be effective if all the schemes are equally involved. We welcome the efforts they have made so far and will continue to work with them to make this as effective as possible.

Child Pornography

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested in the course of Operation Ore; and how many have been charged.

Hilary Benn: I understand that 5,700 of the United Kingdom Operation Ore suspects are being investigated by Home Office police forces (the remainder are being investigated by Scottish Forces, Police Service of Northern Ireland and the island forces). In relation to those suspects, as of 23 January 2003, 1,512 searches have been carried out and 1,336 arrests have been made. 189 individuals have been charged.
	All forces have prioritised those suspects who have access to children at home or at work and those in sensitive occupations. Typically, computer equipment is seized during the search of suspects' addresses. The capacity to forensically examine the volume of computer data accumulated by these suspects is limited and the Government has provided an additional £500,000 for training and equipment for forces to build capacity for this kind of operation. This Government has provided record funding for police forces and has established child protection as a priority in the National Policing Plan. It is for Chief Constables and police authorities to improve the quality of their child protection units within those resources. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Ministers are continuing to monitor progress.

Conviction Data

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the performance of each constabulary in recording conviction data on the police national computer under the court results 90 per cent. data targets for the latest month available.

John Denham: holding answer 14 January 2003
	The particular data to which the hon. Member refers relates to recording not only convictions but all court results. It shows the time taken from the completion of court proceedings to record the quickest 90 per cent. of cases entered during the period in question. The data reflects the longest time taken to record any case within the quickest 90 per cent. The figures include the time taken by courts to notify results to the police, and will be affected by factors such as delays due to a need to clarify results, or undertaking back record conversion exercises.
	The following table shows the results for forces in England and Wales in December 2002. The average figure for the nine-month period from April to December 2002 was 71 days. This compares with an average of 220 days for the period from April 2000 to March 2001, and of 196 days for the period between April 2001 to March 2002.
	We have made clear our determination that the timeliness of inputting data onto the police national computer should be improved. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) reported (Police National Computer Data Quality and Timeliness—Second Report December 2002) that substantial progress had been made following the inspection and review exercise that we commissioned, but that more needed to be done. To this end, we are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to implement HMIC's recommendations.
	
		
			 Constabulary/Force Number of days  
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 20 
			 Bedfordshire 25 
			 Cambridgeshire 56 
			 Cheshire 45 
			 City of London 145 
			 Cleveland 419 
			 Cumbria 19 
			 Derbyshire 14 
			 Devon and Cornwall 14 
			 Dorset 20 
			 Durham 53 
			 Dyfed Powys 30 
			 Essex 20 
			 Gloucestershire 290 
			 Greater Manchester 82 
			 Gwent 84 
			 Hampshire 59 
			 Hertfordshire 66 
			 Humberside 18 
			 Kent 131 
			 Lancashire 36 
			 Leicestershire 30 
			 Lincolnshire 94 
			 Merseyside 49 
			 Metropolitan 248 
			 Norfolk 18 
			 North Wales 23 
			 North Yorkshire 90 
			 Northamptonshire 155 
			 Northumbria 11 
			 Nottinghamshire 35 
			 South Wales 30 
			 South Yorkshire 30 
			 Staffordshire 20 
			 Suffolk 14 
			 Surrey 47 
			 Sussex 80 
			 Thames Valley 22 
			 Warwickshire 45 
			 West Mercia 27 
			 West Midlands 164 
			 West Yorkshire 54 
			 Wiltshire 69

Criminal Records Bureau

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ex-gratia payments have been made by the Criminal Records Bureau to customers because of maladministration.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 20 January 2003
	The Criminal Records Bureau has made 225 ex-gratia payments to customers because of maladministration.

Custodial Sentences (Women)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women received a custodial sentence in each of the last five years; what the average length of sentence was in each year; and what proportion were imprisoned for offences of violence in each year.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is contained in the table.
	
		Women sentenced to immediate custody, average custodial sentence length and proportion sentenced for violent offences(8), England and Wales
		
			  Sentenced to immediate custody for all offences Average custodial sentence length (months)(9) Proportion sentenced for violent offences(8) 
		
		
			Percentage 
			 1997 5,506 9.8 12.9 
			 1998 6,567 9.0 12.1 
			 1999 7,504 8.9 11.2 
			 2000 7,900 9.1 11.8 
			 2001 8,061 10.4 12.2 
		
	
	(8) Offences of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery
	(9) Excluding life
	Figures for 2002 are not yet available.

Entitlement Card

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been taken to publicise the entitlement card consultation.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made a statement to the House when the consultation paper was published on 3 July 2002, Official Report, column 227. A press release was also published at the time and there was considerable coverage in the national and regional broadcast and print media.
	During the consultation period the Home Office has published four further press releases to coincide with Ministerial events. There was also widespread print media reporting and coverage on Sky News of the Home Secretary's speech to a conference on entitlement cards organised by the Information Commissioner on 15 January 2003. The Home Office press office has responded to many requests for briefing by national, local and specialist media.
	400 regional press packs were distributed to local broadcast and print media organisations throughout the UK to encourage them to run debates on their programmes or in their publications. Ministers accepted 10 invitations to debate the issues on local radio programmes and discussed the issue on feature programmes on Channel Four and BBC Radio 2. I also took part in a live webcast on BBC News Online.
	In addition to media activities to raise general public awareness, considerable effort has been devoted to providing information to key stakeholder organisations through officials preparing special summaries of the consultation paper, holding face-to-face meetings and giving presentations at conferences.

Graffiti

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle graffiti.

John Denham: The Government take the problem of graffiti very seriously and are examining ways in which it can reduce the problem. It requires action by several Government Departments and is one of the areas addressed in the Government consultation, "Living Places, Powers, Rights and Responsibilities", which was launched at the Urban Summit on 31 October 2002 with a closing date of 14 February 2003.
	Writing graffiti is an offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. Where criminal proceedings are not appropriate, it can also be dealt with through a number of measures designed to address anti-social behaviour, including anti-social behaviour orders.
	The London Local Authorities Bill, which is currently before Parliament, would clamp down on the sale of spray paints to under 18-year-olds within the London area. We are looking carefully at whether we should adopt this approach nationally.
	In addition, Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships are working with local communities to tackle graffiti. Neighbourhood wardens' programmes and community safety officers are also helping to reduce yobbish behaviour, such as graffiti writing. Local authorities have developed graffiti cleansing programmes and are working with the police to apprehend the culprits.
	We are exploring what extra measures may be necessary as part of the work on the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill and White Paper.

Immigration (Members Hotline)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone calls were received by the hon. Members' hotline at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last six weeks.

Beverley Hughes: The number of telephone calls received by the Members of Parliament hotline is as follows:
	
		
			 Week ending Number of calls 
		
		
			 20 December 2002 750 
			 27 December 2002 (10)88 
			 3 January 2003 (11)132 
			 10 January 2003 751 
			 17 January 2003 736 
			 24 January 2003 735 
		
	
	(10) Only 2 days worked.
	(11) Only 4 days worked.

Mrs. Gemmell

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the application by Mrs. Gemmell of Christchurch to transfer her visa from an old passport to a new one will be dealt with; and for what reason the application is awaiting a decision.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 30 January 2003
	Mrs. Gemmell submitted her passport to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) on 29 November for her visa to be transferred into her new passport. There has been a very large number of applications during this period and some applications, including Mrs. Gemmell's, had to wait longer than usual for initial consideration. However, Mrs. Gemmell's visa was stamped in her new passport on 28 January and her documents are in the process of being returned to her by recorded delivery at her home address.

National Asylum Support Service

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made to increase the number of contracts NASS has with organisations and local authorities in Scotland to provide accommodation for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodates asylum seekers who request that this be provided as part of an application for support. Currently NASS has two contracts, one with Glasgow City Council and one with the YMCA, to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in Scotland. Discussions with another area are ongoing but I am unable to give further information at this stage because this information is commercially sensitive.

Passports

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reduce the (a) length and (b) complexity of the forms used to apply for passports.

Beverley Hughes: The UK Passport Service (UKPS) introduced the current universal passport application form in 1998. The length of the application form is determined by the requirements for identity authentication, determination of entitlement and the fact that it is an application form for all types of passport application. UKPS had previously used different forms for the different types of service required. However there were problems with this arrangement. For example, people did not always use the form that was right for them and the printing and distribution arrangements were both costly and complicated. The current version of the universal form is the fourth produced by UKPS and has been reviewed and improved over the past four years to ensure that it best meets the needs of UKPS' customers. This is tested through analysis of customer error rates and regular market research as well as analysis of complaints.
	The forms are supported by a passport application pack which aims to provide the information required by all UKPS customers. As well as essential information on eligibility and the documents needed to apply, it contains guidance on the services that UKPS offer, the methods of application, fees and details of the complaints procedure. The pack is regularly reviewed to consider where there are opportunities to improve the textual format, provide greater clarity and reduce, where possible, the amount of text.
	UKPS is currently undertaking a further review of both the passport application form and the content of the application pack. All relevant stakeholders are being consulted and customer feedback is being taken fully into consideration as part of this process.

Prison Officers (Vacancies)

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are for prison officers in prisons in England and Wales; and what the rate of sickness absence for (a) prison officers and (b) governors was in the last year for which figures are available.

Hilary Benn: Information on vacancies within Prison Service establishments in England and Wales is as follows.
	
		Vacancies reported as at 1 December 2002 within establishments
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Senior operational managers 54 
			 Officer grades 934 
		
	
	Information relating to sickness absence rates is as follows.
	
		Working days lost per person January-December 2002
		
			  Days lost 
		
		
			 Senior operational managers 6.7 
			 Officer grades 17.2 
		
	
	Senior operational managers include all grades known as governors. Officer grades include senior officers and principal officers.
	Information on private sector prisons is considered to be commercial in confidence and is not therefore available.

Prison Service Order

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that there should be a consolidated Prison Service Order encapsulating best practice on safer custody; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 27 January 2003
	Prison Service Order (PSO) 2700 (suicide and self-harm prevention) came into effect on 1 January 2003. It replaces the previous instructions and sets out mandatory requirements. This PSO brings existing policy in line with the direction of the Prison Service's approach to suicide prevention (the move from awareness to prevention) and the broader context (decency, safety, the concept of the healthy prison). It provides prison staff with instructions on identifying prisoners at risk of suicide and self-harm, and on providing the subsequent care and support for such prisoners.
	A guidance document "Suicide Prevention Strategies" has been issued in conjunction with this PSO. Copies of both have been placed in the Library. The guidance document provides suggestions in line with the suicide and self-harm prevention strategy based on the Internal Review of Suicide and Self-harm in the Prison Service, and incorporates protocols on the use of safer cells and information on the role of the Samaritans and prisoner peer supporters. It aims to support the practices and procedures set out in PSO 2700, while recognising that not all the guidance will be appropriate or feasible or affordable for all establishments. Managers are encouraged to judge which suggestions are appropriate to their type/category of establishment and carefully consider which aspects of the advice they believe realistically can be implemented in their establishment with the resources available.
	These documents cannot reflect all the learning from the Prison Service's suicide prevention and self-harm reduction programme, which is at its halfway stage. This programme includes a series of projects to improve pre-reception, reception and induction arrangements; inter-agency information exchange; prisoner care; detoxification; prisoner peer support, and the learning from investigations into deaths in custody. The three-year programme, which started in April 2001, will be subject to an independent evaluation, and a new generation of replacement PSOs is planned for 2004. It is likely that, as with PSO 2700 and the supporting guide, the distinction between mandatory actions and good practice will be maintained.

Prisoner Data

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 252W, on prisoner data, whether the Inmate Information System allows (a) prison service staff, (b) the social services and (c) his Department's officials to access information on where prisoners served previous sentences; and if he will take steps to improve co-ordination between the prison service and social services.

Hilary Benn: The Inmate Information System allows authorised Prison Service staff to retrieve data of prisoners' previous sentences as long as they have been linked together (on the system) by a member of staff at an establishment or at headquarters. It does not currently allow direct retrieval of such information by other agencies. Approved access by others to agreed data within the new system under development will be enabled by the Criminal Justice System 'exchange' technology now under development by Criminal Justice IT, in line with the targets set out in "Justice For All" (CM 5563).
	The Prison Service has taken significant steps in order to improve its liaison with social services, including meetings with individual social services and also centrally. Staffordshire Social Services have been short-listed as finalists in the child protection category of the Community Care Awards 2002 as a result of this work.

Prisoner Data

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 28 November 2002, Official Report, column 428W, on prisoners, whether his Department will make it its policy to put systems in place in order for information on whether prisoners under 35 have served time in young offenders institutions to be centrally available; and what measures his Department will put in place to ensure that reconvicted prisoners who serve sentences in prisons other than the prison in which they served their initial sentence receive continuity with regard to programmes aimed at their rehabilitation.

Hilary Benn: The Government have put in place targets to deliver improved information systems across the Criminal Justice System by 2005. As part of this, we are considering a replacement for the Prison Service Local Inmate Database System (LIDS) and Inmate Information System (IIS), which will centralise data, improve custodial history information and provide easier interrogation of data across the prison estate and beyond.
	The Prison Service already has in place a sentence planning system which seeks to ensure that reconvicted prisoners, returning to custody in a different prison, receive continuity in programmes and other regime interventions designed to address their offending behaviour and prepare them for release. Improved continuity will derive from the new IT based joint prison probation offender assessment system, OASys. Rollout of OASys across the Prison Service is due to start in April 2003 and will take between 12 and 18 months.

Prisoners' Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what security checks are carried out on prisoners' mail in UK prisons.

Hilary Benn: Prison Rule 35A (and Young Offender Institutions Rule 11) allows for a prisoner's correspondence to be intercepted where it is a necessary and proportionate response to what is sought to be achieved. Further detail is set out in the "Prison Service Security Manual", a copy of which can be found in the Library.
	In high security prisons, prisoner correspondence is screened by an x-ray machine when it arrives at the prison, and as a matter of good practice, correspondence will also be subject to drug detection by the prison drug dog. At lower security prisons, this will happen when there is intelligence to suggest there is an illicit article in a prisoner's mail, although some prisons screen all mail as a matter of good practice.
	Prisoners are aware that all letters are opened and can be read by staff, except correspondence that has the protection of Prison Rule 39, which protects legal professional privilege or contains confidential material. All correspondence involving a category A prisoner, or of prisoners held on a unit containing a category A prisoner, will be read.
	Prisoners who have committed or are remanded for particular offences (e.g. those who pose a threat to children) will have all their mail read, subject to review about the continuing threat that they pose. In all other cases, except where it has been decided that a prisoner's correspondence may provide useful intelligence for particular investigations, around five per cent. of all mail will be read on a random basis based on an assessment of the threat to security at individual establishments.
	A prisoner's mail will also be searched during a cell search, unless it is kept in stored property.
	Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively.

Prisons (Mother and Baby Units)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are held in each of the prison service mother and baby units.

Hilary Benn: There are currently four mother and baby units which cover England and Wales. Their capacity is as follows: Askham Grange near York has 20 places; Holloway in London has 17 places; New Hall near Wakefield has nine places and Styal in Cheshire has 22 places. This provides a total of 68 places and at the week beginning 13 January 2003, 56 of these places were being used.

Prisons (Mother and Baby Units)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners applied for a place on a mother and baby unit in each of the last five years; and how many applications were successful.

Hilary Benn: Every woman prisoner with a child under 18 months may apply for a place on a mother and baby unit (MBU). Each women's prison has a mother and baby unit liaison officer who will outline the MBU process to new prisoners and assist with their applications. No figures are held centrally on the number of women who submit applications each year.

Reconviction Rates

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of women prisoners have been reconvicted within two years of release in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The latest available information for women discharged from prison is for 1997; 51 per cent. were reconvicted within two years of release. Reconviction rates for women prisoners released in 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were 47 per cent., 47 per cent., 46 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively. These rates are published in "Prison Statistics-England and Wales".

Work Permits

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the transfer of work permits from the Northern Ireland Department of Education and Research to his Department take place.

Beverley Hughes: Since 1 September 2002 the work permit arrangements for the United Kingdom have been administered by Work Permits (UK) part of the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Prior to this date, Northern Ireland's Department for Employment and Learning undertook the role of administering the work permit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Young Prisoners

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to reform custodial arrangements for 18 to 20-year-old prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The Government are commited to improve custodial accommodation and offending programmes for 18 to 20-year-olds. A number of initiatives and policy proposals have emerged in the last two years, as the Government have considered their approach to this age group since the creation of the new Youth Justice System for under 18-year-olds.
	Resources from the 2002 spending review will be used to pilot proposals made by the social exclusion unit to improve custody and resettlement arrangements for 18 to 20-year-olds. We will use these pilots to build up and test out new standards. The 18 to 20-year-old offender group are likely to benefit from higher standards and enhanced regimes.
	We are also investing an additional £14.5 million a year from April 2003 in the Prison Service Custody to Work initiative to increase the number of prisoners getting jobs, education or training places after release. 18 to 20-year-olds are already benefiting from additional money invested in the programmes funded from previous spending reviews, for example on drug treatment and offending behaviour programmes.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

University Degrees

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students, from which colleges, have obtained university degrees in each of the last three years in (a) fashion knitwear, (b) surf science, (c) football studies, (d) golf course studies and (e) jazz studies.

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the universities and higher education institutions offering undergraduate courses in (a) aromatherapy, (b) counselling, (c) alternative therapies and (d) acupuncture; and in each case, how many graduates are produced on average each year.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 31 January 2003
	The requested information is not held by the Department.
	The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is responsible for the central collection of data on qualifications obtained in UK HE institutions. It records subject details using the Joint Academic Coding System (JACS) which relates to standard academic categories rather than specific course titles of the type referred to in this question.
	The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) maintains a database of full-time HE courses in the UK. Details of courses for 2003 entry can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.ac.uk.

Advanced Extension Awards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the subjects offered in the Advanced Extension Awards; and what plans he has to extend the range of subjects on offer.

David Miliband: Advanced Extension Awards are currently available in biology, chemistry, critical studies, economics, English, French, geography, German, history, Irish, Latin, maths, physics, religious studies, Spanish, Welsh and Welsh second language. We have decided to extend the range of subjects offered, which will include piloting a vocational subject.

Advanced Extension Awards

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the student take-up of Advanced Extension Awards was in 2002; and what percentage of those candidates were in each grade boundary.

David Miliband: There were 6,841 entries for Advanced Extension Awards in 2002, the first year this qualification was offered. 16.8 per cent were awarded a Distinction, 31.1 per cent. achieved a Merit and 52.1 per cent. were graded as Unclassified.

Civil Servants

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants have been employed by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each year from 1994–95 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by Cabinet Office to this question on 22 January 2003. Official report column. 334W.

Degree Courses

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of curriculum changes at secondary level on the future duration of the undergraduate degree course.

David Miliband: The curriculum changes at secondary level planned under the 14–19 reforms which we announced last week are not expected to have any effect on the duration of undergraduate degree courses.

Examinations

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 24W, on examinations, whether the sums include the cost of (a) production, (b) printing, (c) marking and (d) moderation of progress tests taken by Year 7 pupils.

David Miliband: holding answer 30 January 2003
	The costs of producing Year 7 progress tests were included in my previous reply, as part of the costs of the Key Stage 2 tests.
	The costs of printing/distributing and marking the Year 7 progress tests were not included in my previous reply. These are:
	2001: £1.4 million
	2002: £1.4 million
	There are no moderation costs in relation to Year 7 progress tests.

Foundation Degrees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities will be involved in the Foundation Degree Forward network.

Margaret Hodge: We are discussing with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) the detailed arrangements, including the number of universities to be involved. A full announcement will be made shortly.

Foundation Degrees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many universities his Department has consulted on the Foundation Degree Forward scheme.

Margaret Hodge: Officials discussed this proposal informally, with a range of universities and bodies representing universities prior to the publication of the HE Strategy document. Responses to "The Future of Higher Education"(Cm 5735) will inform how we take this initiative forward.

Further Education

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio between students and lecturers in the further education sector was in each of the last three years expressed in terms of full-time equivalents for both students and lecturers; and what ratio is projected for the next two years.

Margaret Hodge: Student staff ratios are routinely published in the DfES Departmental Report and the figures below are derived from Annex L of the Department's 2002 Report.
	
		Student to academic staff ratio—Further Education in sector colleges
		
			 Year Numbers 
		
		
			  
			 1997–98 16.2 
			 1998–99 15.8 
			 1999–2000 15.8 
		
	
	Formal projections are not made, but the expectation is that the numbers will remain around the same level for the next two years.

Further Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) full-time and (b) part-time lecturers in further education colleges had a recognised teaching qualification in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 30 January 2003
	The proportion of teaching staff in FE colleges recorded as holding recognised teaching qualifications in each year since 1997 is shown as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Full-time staff 
			 Fully qualified 46 45 48 48 
			 Part-qualified 7 8 10 11 
			  
			 Part-time staff 
			 Fully qualified 19 17 19 21 
			 Part-qualified 10 10 13 15 
		
	
	Source:
	LSC Staff Individualised Record.

GCSEs

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils sitting GCSE last year achieved grade C or higher in all three core subjects of English, mathematics and science in each local education authority.

David Miliband: holding reply 28 January 2003
	The percentage of pupils achieving grade C or higher in the three core subjects (English, maths and science) in the 2001–02 GCSE examinations for each local authority is shown in the table.
	
		
			 LEA Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving GCSE A*-C in English, Maths and Science 
		
		
			 London, City of n/a 
			 Camden 35.5 
			 Greenwich 20.6 
			 Hackney 20.6 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 37.7 
			 Islington 21.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 40.0 
			 Lambeth 24.2 
			 Lewisham 27.1 
			 Southwark 21.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 22.8 
			 Wandsworth 30.9 
			 Westminster, City of 30.1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 24.4 
			 Barnet 46.8 
			 Bexley 36.5 
			 Brent 36.4 
			 Bromley 45.8 
			 Croydon 33.3 
			 Ealing 34.3 
			 Enfield 33.6 
			 Haringey 23.6 
			 Harrow 45.8 
			 Havering 41.0 
			 Hillingdon 32.8 
			 Hounslow 36.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames 49.5 
			 Merton 28.8 
			 Newham 27.9 
			 Redbridge 48.8 
			 Richmond upon Thames 38.4 
			 Sutton 53.5 
			 Waltham Forest 32.8 
			 Birmingham 30.3 
			 Coventry 29.7 
			 Dudley 37.0 
			 Sandwell 21.2 
			 Solihull 40.1 
			 Walsall 28.7 
			 Wolverhampton 28.2 
			 Knowsley 16.9 
			 Liverpool 26.0 
			 St Helens 30.6 
			 Sefton 37.5 
			 Wirral 40.3 
			 Bolton 34.5 
			 Bury 43.5 
			 Manchester 22.0 
			 Oldham 28.1 
			 Rochdale 25.9 
			 Salford 25.0 
			 Stockport 41.1 
			 Tameside 30.6 
			 Trafford 48.2 
			 Wigan 37.2 
			 Barnsley 23.9 
			 Doncaster 27.4 
			 Rotherham 28.8 
			 Sheffield 31.2 
			 Bradford 25.2 
			 Calderdale 34.8 
			 Kirklees 33.4 
			 Leeds 30.5 
			 Wakefield 32.2 
			 Gateshead 35.5 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 26.9 
			 North Tyneside 34.3 
			 South Tyneside 31.1 
			 Sunderland 27.7 
			 Isles of Scilly 44.4 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 44.6 
			 Bristol, City of 21.2 
			 North Somerset 40.4 
			 South Gloucestershire 38.2 
			 Hartlepool 29.6 
			 Middlesbrough 24.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 35.0 
			 Stockton on Tees 32.5 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 17.5 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 37.2 
			 North East Lincolnshire 25.6 
			 North Lincolnshire 30.9 
			 North Yorkshire 46.7 
			 York, City of 43.2 
			 Bedfordshire 37.1 
			 Luton 25.3 
			 Buckinghamshire 52.3 
			 Milton Keynes 27.7 
			 Derbyshire 39.2 
			 Derby City 33.2 
			 Dorset 45.1 
			 Poole 49.9 
			 Bournemouth 41.7 
			 Durham 28.6 
			 Darlington 35.4 
			 East Sussex 36.5 
			 Brighton and Hove 29.0 
			 Hampshire 42.8 
			 Portsmouth 22.6 
			 Southampton 28.7 
			 Leicestershire 39.3 
			 Leicester City 27.5 
			 Rutland 47.5 
			 Staffordshire 36.8 
			 Stoke on Trent 26.1 
			 Wiltshire 44.0 
			 Swindon 35.3 
			 Bracknell Forest 35.8 
			 Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 43.8 
			 West Berkshire 43.6 
			 Reading 33.9 
			 Slough 40.5 
			 Wokingham 52.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 40.5 
			 Peterborough, City of 27.8 
			 Cheshire 45.8 
			 Halton 29.7 
			 Warrington 37.5 
			 Devon 37.1 
			 Plymouth, City of 37.1 
			 Torbay 41.0 
			 Essex 38.1 
			 Southend 43.9 
			 Thurrock 28.6 
			 Herefordshire 42.7 
			 Worcestershire 38.0 
			 Kent 41.1 
			 Medway 36.2 
			 Lancashire 38.9 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 28.1 
			 Blackpool 23.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 34.2 
			 Nottingham, City of 19.5 
			 Shropshire 43.7 
			 Telford and Wrekin 34.8 
			 Cornwall 38.9 
			 Cumbria 39.9 
			 Gloucestershire 47.4 
			 Hertfordshire 43.0 
			 Isle of Wight 30.6 
			 Lincolnshire 41.3 
			 Norfolk 37.6 
			 Northamptonshire 35.2 
			 Northumberland 38.2 
			 Oxfordshire 38.9 
			 Somerset 40.1 
			 Suffolk 41.0 
			 Surrey 43.9 
			 Warwickshire 39.2 
			 West Sussex 41.3 
			 Total (maintained sector) 36.1

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his statement of 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 303, on higher education, what his definition of participation is; and when he aims to achieve 50 per cent. participation in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend in his statement on 22 January 2003 stated that the Government's target remains, as we set out in the Department's public service agreement published in 2000 and reaffirmed in last summer's spending review settlement, to increase participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 by the end of the decade. Participation in England is currently at 43 per cent.
	Participation in higher education is measured by the Initial Entry Rate (IER). The IER covers English domiciled 18 to 30 year-olds who entered higher education for the first time in a particular academic year. It includes entry to all full-time and part-time courses of one year or more that lead to qualifications awarded by higher education institutions or widely-recognised national awarding bodies.

Higher Education

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his definition is of experience of higher education in respect of the target for 50 per cent. of all 18 to 30-year-olds to experience higher education by 2010.

Margaret Hodge: Experience of higher education in respect of the higher education participation target is defined by the Initial Entry Rate.
	The Initial Entry Rate sums the percentages of the English domiciled age group who enter higher education in the UK for the first time in each year of age between 18 and 30, on full or part-time courses of one year or more that lead to a qualification awarded by higher education institutions or widely recognized national awarding bodies.

Higher Education (West Cumbria)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding he has allocated for the provision of access to degree level higher education courses for West Cumbrians locally; and when those funds will be received;
	(2)  what measures are being taken to provide young people and prospective college students with access to degree level higher education courses in west Cumbria; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: It is not possible to identify the total sums allocated to courses for west Cumbria because funds are allocated to institutions, which will educate students from a wide geographical area. However, the particular needs of Cumbria are being addressed through collaborative arrangements by the four core providers of HE in Cumbria; University of Central Lancashire, Lancaster University, St. Martin's College of HE and Cumbria Institute of the Arts. As a result of this collaboration, funding has been made available by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for an additional 1,200 HE student places in Cumbria since 1999. HEFCE is currently reviewing future funding for Cumbria through a task force chaired by Sir Brian Fender.
	In addition, the Government's Excellence Challenge programme, which encourages universities to work closely with schools and colleges in disadvantaged areas, will, from 2003–04, expand to cover west Cumbria. Funds will be available from September 2003. West Cumbria will also be part of the National Partnerships for Progression Initiative run by HEFCE, and will be eligible for its share of funding for projects to enhance progression into higher education. Partnerships will be informed of their level of support in spring 2003. Excellence Challenge and Partnerships for Progression will be merged as "Aim Higher" from 2004.

Higher Education Funding

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the review of funding for higher education.

Margaret Hodge: The Government's White Paper The Future of Higher Education was published on 22 January. The White Paper sets out our plans for the radical reform and development of higher education, including the outcome of our review of student finance.

Key Stage 2

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools administered the Key Stage 2 English and mathematics tests to Year 7 pupils in 2002;
	(2)  how many Year 7 pupils took the Key Stage 2 tests in English and mathematics in 2002;
	(3)  what percentage of Year 7 pupils achieved a Level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests in English and mathematics in 2002.

David Miliband: In 2002, 2,107 schools chose to administer the Key Stage 2 test (known as the year 7 progress test) for their year 7 pupils, of which 1,947 school administered the English tests; and 1978 schools administered the mathematics tests. From those schools, 61,827 year 7 pupils took the English progress test; and 76,221 took the mathematics test. Some pupils who sat the test were not eligible to do so. Of those eligible pupils who sat the test and who had achieved level 3 at Key Stage 2 in 2001, 30 per cent. achieved level 4 or above in the English progress test, and 18 per cent. achieved level 4 or above in the mathematics progress test in 2002.

Lifelong Learning

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he will take to assure potential users of the quality of provision of information, advice and guidance on lifelong learning for adults.

Ivan Lewis: The Government have developed and are promoting the matrix quality standard for information, advice and guidance (IAG) services. This quality assures publicly funded IAG provision. Additionally, where IAG is offered within student support services in FE Colleges, it will be subject to inspection by Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate as part of the inspection of the institution as a whole, under the Common Inspection Framework.
	Within the framework of the Government's Skills Strategy and Delivery Plan, we will consider what, if any, further action might be needed.

Lifelong Learning

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will promote a national brand to market information, advice and guidance on lifelong learning for adults.

Ivan Lewis: Yes, as I said recently we need an information, advice and guidance service for adults that is highly visible and identifiable, so that people know what they can get and where they can get it. We are taking forward the development and promotion of an overarching identity for adult IAG within our work to develop an overall Skills Strategy and Delivery Plan.

Lifelong Learning

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he is making of whether the level of (a) resources and (b) funding for information, advice and guidance on lifelong learning for adults is sufficient to ensure that customer demand is met.

Ivan Lewis: As part of developing our overall Skills Strategy and Delivery Plan, we are reviewing the role information, advice and guidance (IAG) services for adults should play within the strategy. This involves looking at all aspects of IAG, including resources and funding.

Local Education Authorities

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the use of his powers to intervene in local education authorities as to the amount such authorities spend on education.

David Miliband: The Education Act 2002 requires local education authorities to notify the Secretary of State of their proposed schools budget by 31 January 2003. My right hon. Friend will decide in the light of the proposed budgets whether it is necessary to use the reserve power, and will take into account all relevant circumstances in reaching any decision.

Local Government Finance

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total education formula spending for Essex was for 2003–04; and what the standard spending assessment for education for Essex was for 2002–03.

David Miliband: In 2003–04, Essex's total Education Formula Spending Share is £666.8 million. In 2002–03,Essex's Education SSA was £594.7 million.
	The figure for 2003–04 is provisional and not fully comparable with 2002–03. The figure for 2003–04 includes funding transferred into EPS from grant and takes account of the increase in contributions to the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Neither figure includes funding transferred to the Learning and Skills Council for sixth form funding.

Ofsted

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when OFSTED'S service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

David Miliband: This is a matter for Ofsted. The HM Chief Inspector, David Bell, will write to my hon. friend and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Ofsted

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what mandatory jurisdiction OFSTED has over independent schools;
	(2)  what jurisdiction OFSTED has over the (a) accommodation and (b) fabric in independent schools;
	(3)  what steps OFSTED has taken to ensure that independent schools comply with the health and safety at work legislation.

David Miliband: Independent Schools in England which provide full time education for five or more pupils of compulsory school age must register with the Department for Education and Skills. Once registered, they must maintain satisfactory standards in respect of premises, accommodation, staffing and instruction. Independent boarding schools must also safeguard and promote the welfare of their pupils. For monitoring purposes they are inspected on a regular 6 year cycle either by OFSTED or by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in the case of schools belonging to the Independent Schools Council. In addition, independent schools are inspected by the fire brigade and, in the case of boarding schools, every three years by the National Care Standards Commission. Health and Safety requirements are considered by inspectors in the context of standards relating to premises and accommodation. More frequent inspections are undertaken where there are signs of failing and, where inspection evidence indicates that a school has fallen below the standards required, the Secretary of State has powers of enforcement which could lead to the closure of the school.

Post-16 Education

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  when 16 to 18-year-olds in Redcar constituency will become entitled to education maintenance allowances;
	(2)  if he will give priority to areas adjacent to the pilot schemes in the national implementation of Education Maintenance Allowances.

Margaret Hodge: Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) will be made available across the whole of England from September 2004. Initially, EMAs will be available to students in their first year of post-compulsory education (year 12), although in the EMA pilot areas, students in year 13 and 14 will also be eligible.

School Buildings (Kirklees)

Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list building improvement projects and their value in each school in Kirklees in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The Department does not hold information at this level of detail. Much capital funding for school building improvement projects is allocated by formulae to local education authorities and schools. They then decide how to invest and prioritise these capital allocations between individual projects, in line with the locally agreed Asset Management Plan.
	Kirklees Local Education Authority was also allocated £59.2 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits in 2000–01 to repair, refurbish and operate 20 schools. A further £20.3 million PFI credits were allocated to Kirklees in 2002–03 to reorganise its special schools and build a new special school.

School Leavers

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many pupils left school at 16 years in each local education authority area in each academic year since 1990;
	(2)  how many pupils entered (a) further education and (b) higher education in each local education authority area in each academic year since 1990.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 20 January 2003
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Places (Dewsbury)

Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) applications and (b) available places there have been for schools in Dewsbury for (i) the next academic year, (ii) the current academic year and (iii) the last three academic years.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect detailed information on this. It is for local education authorities to plan and keep under review the supply of school places and to ensure that there are sufficient school places. Each year LEAs must publish a School Organisation Plan which sets out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of school places over a rolling five-year period.
	Where an LEA can demonstrate overall growth in the need for places it may apply to the Department for capital funding.

Schools (East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) applications and (b) available places there were for schools in the East Riding for (i) the next academic year (ii) the current academic year and (iii) the last three academic years.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect detailed information on this. It is for Local Education Authorities to plan and keep under review the supply of school places and to ensure that there are sufficient school places. Each year LEAs must publish a School Organisation Plan which sets out how they plan to deal with any surplus or deficit of school places over a rolling five year period.
	Where an LEA can demonstrate overall growth in the need for places it may apply to the Department for capital funding.

Schools (Vocational Curriculum)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much flexibility schools will have under his proposals for a vocational curriculum.

David Miliband: Our policy document 14–19: opportunity and excellence set out our intention to make changes to the curriculum at Key Stage 4 so that schools can offer programmes that better meet young people's individual needs and strengths, whilst ensuring they acquire the core of general learning and experience essential to later learning and employment.
	All students will still have to learn English, mathematics, science and ICT. They will also continue to be taught citizenship, religious education, sex education, physical education and careers education. There will be a new statutory requirement that all young people should undertake some work-related learning, including enterprise. Schools will no longer be required to teach modern foreign languages and design and technology to all pupils. All schools will be required to ensure as a minimum that they are available to any pupil wishing to study them and there will be similar entitlements to study the arts and humanities.
	This will allow schools flexibility to offer young people options—particularly vocational programmes—tailored to their interests and aptitudes. As an example the Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds' programme, which was launched in September 2002, enables young people participating in the programme to study at a college or with a training provider, for one or two days a week throughout Key Stage

Schools (Wycombe)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list each school in the Wycombe constituency that has been in special measures in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Three schools in Wycombe have been in special measures since 1997:
	Bellfield First School (1997–1998)
	The Hatters' Lane School (2000–2001)
	King's Wood Infant School (2000–2002).
	All three schools have now been closed.

Scottish Universities

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his statement of 22 January, Official Report, columns 301–19, what steps he has taken to institute monitoring of the impact the changes in policy for English and Welsh universities will have on Scottish universities.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2003
	Our White Paper, "The future of higher education" contains a section on cross-border issues. Paragraph 7.52 acknowledges the need to consider further the impact of our proposals for student and institutional funding on flows of students between UK countries. We will discuss these issues with all the devolved administrations.

Scottish Universities

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his statement of 22 January, Official Report, columns 301–319, what impact he estimates his policy will have on Scottish universities' access to United Kingdom research council funding.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2003
	The Research Councils are funded by the Office of Science and Technology and allocate resources for research projects across the UK. Awards are made through competitive processes usually decided by peer review. The distribution of such funding to Scottish universities is unaffected by my Department's proposals set out in "The Future of Higher Education".

Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when his Department's service delivery agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published.

David Miliband: We have set out how we will deliver our Public Service Agreements in our document, "Delivering Results; A Strategy to 2006", which was updated in December 2002 to reflect targets agreed as part of Spending Review 2002. A copy is available from the Department's website, at www.dfes.gov.uk/delivering-results. Hard copies are available from DfES publications by calling 0845 60 222 60.

Student Loans

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many individuals have loans outstanding with the Student Loans Company; and how many are (a) compliant, (b) deferred, (c) overdue and (d) written off, broken down in each category according to current residence (i) in the United Kingdom, (ii) the European Union and EEA and (iii) elsewhere.

Margaret Hodge: At the end of the 2001–02 financial year there were 2,439,000 borrowers with student loans, either mortgage style or income contingent. Some 1,165,000 borrowers had accounts on which no repayments were due, either because they were still studying or had recently left higher education. Of the 1,319,000 borrowers with accounts in repayment status, some 601,000 had accounts on which they were either ahead or up to date with their repayments.
	Some 588,000 borrowers with mortgage style loans had accounts on which they had taken up their entitlement to delay repayment until their income reached the repayment threshold and were, therefore, deferring their repayments or deferring their repayments with arrears; and 155,000 had accounts which were in arrears.
	Most new entrants to higher education from September 1998 have income contingent loans where repayments are linked to income and collected through the tax system. This means that these loans do not go into arrears, nor do borrowers need to apply for deferment—no repayments are deducted from borrowers whose income falls below £10,000 per annum. In April 2005 the income repayment threshold will be raised to £15,000.
	Individual borrowers may have both mortgage style and income contingent loans and also loan accounts in more than one status, in which case they are counted in each category.
	Some 1,000 borrowers had accounts, either mortgage style or income contingent, which were written off during the financial year on the grounds of age, disability or death.
	Data cannot be analysed by current residence of the borrower without incurring disproportionate costs.

Student Loans

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the qualification threshold for the minimum income earned by a graduate before they need to pay back their student loan be raised to £15,000 will apply to the whole of the United Kingdom.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 28 January 2003
	All graduates in the UK who repay their loans through their employers via the Inland Revenue will benefit from the increase in the repayment threshold.

Student Numbers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assumptions are made about student numbers in figure 3 in the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education".

Margaret Hodge: Figure 3 of "The Future of Higher Education" shows total publicly planned funding for Higher Education, and the unit funding, in real terms in each year from 1989–90 to 2003–04. The numbers of students which underpin the unit funding calculations are shown in the following table.
	
		UK- and EU-domiciled students at English higher education institutions (full-time equivalent, thousand)
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1989–90 567 
			 1990–91 622 
			 1991–92 695 
			 1992–93 786 
			 1993–94 876 
			 1994–95 944 
			 1995–96 989 
			 1996–97 1,007 
			 1997–98 1,019 
			 1998–99 1,023 
			 1999–2000 1,041 
			 2000–01 1,064 
			 2001–02 1,087 
			 2002–03 1,101 
			 2003–04 1,115

Teacher Vacancies (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacancies for teachers there are in the London borough of Wandsworth.

David Miliband: There were 55 vacancies for full-time teachers in maintained nursery, primary, secondary and special schools in Wandsworth in January 2002. This is the most recent date for which these data are available.

Teaching and Learning Research Programme

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Teaching and Learning Research programme, with particular reference to its (a) progress since its inception and (b) further development plans.

Margaret Hodge: The ESRC Teaching and Learning Programme funded at 25m (by HEFCE with contributions from the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly and DfES) supports 4 research networks in Phase I addressing inclusion, science, consulting students and workplace learning. Phase II has supported 9 projects focusing on aspects of schooling and post-compulsory education. Currently, the 46 shortlisted proposals on post-compulsory, workplace and lifelong teaching and learning in Phase III are being reviewed for selection. In addition, the programme is funding an initiative to develop capacity building in research, focusing on increasing high-quality research skills.
	Significant differences in attainment between comparable groups of learners under different conditions have been reported by several of the projects. Priorities for science teaching have been identified by one project which has had an impact on the science curriculum.
	Future plans include commissioning Phase III projects which will start later in 2002 and run up to 2008, extending the research capacity building strand and developing further collaborative links internationally. Consultation with other organisations is underway on detailed plans for the programme's outputs and impact.

Teaching Profession

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the (a) prevalence and (b) causes of occupational stress among teachers.

David Miliband: The Government do not collect separate statistics on the incidence of teacher occupational stress, but do collect information on teacher absences and ill-health retirements and has commissioned research into the causes of these. They do not show any significant incidence of teacher stress as the cause for these events. In 2001–02, for example, around 0.6 per cent. of teacher retirements occurred as a direct result of stress. Despite this, teaching is a demanding job and stress can be hidden by other health problems. The Government take very seriously the issue of stress in schools. We have concluded a national agreement with most teaching unions, the support staff unions and local authority employers over teacher workload; we have supported the setting-up of an independent 24-hour telephone counselling helpline for teachers, operated by the Teacher Support Network (formerly the Teachers' Benevolent Fund); and we are piloting with a number of LEAs a project aimed at spreading best practice in using support mechanisms to promote teacher health and welfare.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of English domiciled students in secondary education aged 18 from each local education authority were accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service to full-time undergraduate courses each year since 1994–95.

Margaret Hodge: The available information, showing the proportion of 18-year-olds from each LEA in England entering full-time undergraduate courses in the UK via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is given in a table.
	It should be noted that the proportions in the table, which has been placed in the Library, are based only on the number of 18-year-olds entering full-time HE. This is a different definition to the Department's main measures of HE participation: the Age Participation Index (API), which measures the proportion of 18–20-year-olds who enter full-time HE, and the Initial Entry Rate (IER) which measures the proportion of 18–30-year-olds who enter full or part-time HE. Neither the API nor the IER are calculated at LEA level.

University Funding

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how he intends to help universities to build up endowment funds, as announced in the Government's "The Future of Higher Education" White Paper;
	(2)  if he will be setting up a task force to encourage universities to increase their funds through endowments as announced in the Government's "The Future of Higher Education" White Paper.

Margaret Hodge: As set out in the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", the Government will help to build a culture in which donors and institutions make the most of the potential for endowments in the higher education sector. The Government will set up a task force to encourage institutions and potential donors to promote the existing incentives for individual and corporate donation and to encourage change in university and individual behaviour. The task force will be composed of corporate donors, financial and fundraising experts from the public, private and voluntary sectors, and the higher education sector itself, as well as other key opinion formers.
	The White Paper also says that the Government will seek resources for a time limited, matched endowment fund to incentivise university fundraising. Matched funds would be allocated to universities, taking into account their existing fundraising capacity.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students he estimates will be eligible for the full £1,000 maintenance grant announced in the Government's "The Future of Higher Education" White Paper.

Margaret Hodge: We estimate that on the current student distribution, around 28 per cent. of students would be eligible. We are currently reviewing the figure on the basis of new data we have available to us. A significant proportion of these are independent students, who may have given up work to return to full-time education, and most of whom have no means of support.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what studies his Department has undertaken with regard to the disincentive effects of debt on students considering a university education.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has commissioned and published a number of studies that have investigated the barriers to participation in higher education. These have included:
	"Social Class and Higher Education: Issues Affecting Participation by Lower Social Class groups" Connor, H. et al DfEE Research Report No. 246 2001;
	"For me or not for me—that is the question. A study of mature students' decision-making and higher education" Pat Davies, Mike Osborne and Jenny Williams 2002 DfES Research Report 297;
	"Potential Mature Student Recruitment to HE" (2002), Ross, A. et al. DfES Research Report RR385
	The potential disincentive effect of debt is one of the factors these studies haveconsidered. These studies, and the wider research literature, find that the decision to participate in higher education depends on many interdependent factors which are often shaped by the cultural, social, institutional and education backgrounds of individuals. The Department also commissions periodic surveys of students' income and expenditure. Amongst other things these provide an objective picture of students' financial position and how this is changing over time. The Department has recently commissioned a new survey of students' income and expenditure that will report later this year.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates he has made of how many universities will charge the full fees available to them as announced in the Government's "The Future of Higher Education" White Paper.

Margaret Hodge: It is up to higher education institutions to decide whether to charge fees and if so for what courses and at what level.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimates he has made of the amount of debt that will be experienced by a university student on (a) a three year course, (b) a four year course and (c) a five year course following the reforms announced in the Government's The Future of Higher Education White Paper;
	(2)  what estimates he has made of the average time that it will take for graduates to pay back the tuition fees announced in the Government's The Future of Higher Education White Paper.

Margaret Hodge: The level of loan taken out by students will depend on their individual circumstances and choices, including the extent to which they work while in higher education. Students from lower income backgrounds will be eligible for fee remission and for the new HE grant. The level of maintenance loan will depend upon students' own choices and the level of maintenance loan to which they are entitled and whether they choose to live at home or study away. There are different maxima of maintenance loan dependent upon length of course and where the student lives e.g. more in London, less if they live at home. The level of loan taken out for fees will partly depend on the fee charged and partly on students' choices of whether to pay up front or to take advantage of the new policy to defer payment of fees which offer graduation.
	The length of time to repay the loan after graduation will depend on the size of the loan taken out and on the salary the graduate is earning, it will also depend on whether the graduate makes any additional repayments from their own resources or from their employer.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to what extent students will be selected for university places on the basis of (a) parental income and (b) school performance.

Margaret Hodge: Universities are responsible for their own admissions criteria. The Government believe that admission should be on the basis of merit. We have set out in "The Future of Higher Education" a range of approaches taken by universities and elsewhere to ensure that students with the ability to succeed are selected.

University Tuition Fees

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial incentives the Government will offer students whose parents are receiving (a) benefits and (b) tax credits following the Government Higher Education White Paper.

Margaret Hodge: The Government will continue to meet the costs of fees up to £1,100 for those students whose family income falls below £20,000, and a proportion of that for those students whose family income is between £20,000 and £30,000.
	All students will be able to defer fees. Those whose family income is below £10,000 will be eligible for a £1,000 grant, and those whose family income is between £10,000 and £20,000 will be eligible for a proportion of that.

Vocational Training

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that pupils participating in vocational training schemes are guaranteed work placements with commercial employers.

David Miliband: The Department is undertaking a number of initiatives to boost the range and volume of high quality vocational opportunities available to 14 to 19 year olds. These already include a £10 million programme to ensure that two weeks of work experience with employers or other organisations is available for all pupils in Key Stage 4; vocational courses under the £120 million Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16 year olds programme; and the first round of 25 Pathfinders to test local delivery of innovative 14 to 19 provision in a range of settings, which are jointly funded by the Department and the Learning and Skills Council.
	We have recently announced our proposals for further developments and have made it clear that we want to see access for all young people to short or longer-term employer placements with a wide variety of organisations, which are challenging, innovative and responsive to a range of individual needs.
	Where schools offer pupils the opportunity to study NVQs as an alternative to the traditional academic route, whether at Key Stage 4 or post-16, the NVQ must be as rigorous as those offered elsewhere. The main characteristic of an NVQ is that it is work-based and pupils are trained and assessed in a relevant real-life work situation.

HEALTH

Alcohol Strategy

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy in the alcohol strategy to ensure that young people with underlying emotional or mental health problems are fully assessed and where necessary referred to tier 3 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Hazel Blears: The Government is committed to implementing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy by 2004. The strategy will be prepared by the Cabinet Office strategy unit, who will consider a wide range of issues including health service needs and the needs of vulnerable young people. The strategy will be published in Summer 2003.
	The capacity of the child and adolescent mental health services to respond to a range of needs, including those of young people whose alcohol problems have underlying emotional or mental health causes, is steadily improving. However, appropriate assessment and referral arrangements are for local services to determine.

Child Care

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the practice of placing grandchildren with their grandparents rather than in care in the event of a family crisis; and whether it is his policy that this practice is the first option looked at when examining the needs of a child.

Jacqui Smith: The Children Act 1989 places a duty on local authorities to promote the upbringing of children within their families. If a child cannot remain with birth parents then arrangements should be made for that child to live with a member of his wider family unless to do so would be impractical or inconsistent with the child's welfare. If the child is already in care there is the same duty to seek first to place the child within the wider family network.

Abortions

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many abortions have been performed on girls aged 12 and under in each of the last five years; at what age each girl having the abortion was; in which local area health authority each abortion was performed; in which NHS hospital or private clinic each abortion was performed; and at what stage of gestation each abortion was performed;
	(2)  how many abortions have been performed on girls aged (a) 13, (b) 14 and (c) 15 in each of the last five years; in which local area health authority each abortion was performed; and at what stage of gestation each abortion was performed.

Hazel Blears: The information requested has been placed in the Library. In order to preserve the individuals' privacy, the data have been provided in three separate tables. For the same reason, the Department of Health does not publish data on place of termination; Open Government Code of Practice exemptions 11b, 12, 14a and 14c apply.

Abortions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2003 to the hon. Member for Romsey (Sandra Gidley), Official Report, column 480W, on abortions, if he will disaggregate the figures for the Isle of Wight.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		NHS Funded abortions for Isle of Wight residents, 1997–2001
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			  
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 1,584 1,620 1,532 1,526 1,566 
			 Isle of Wight only 181 194 166 195 227 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Data for 1997 to 2000 are for the Health Authority of the Isle of Wight (equivalent to Isle of Wight Local Authority).
	2. Data for 2001 are for the Local Authority of the Isle of Wight.
	Source:
	Prepared by Statistics Division 3G, Department of Health.

Accidents and Emergencies (Waiting Times)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the target for a four-hour maximum accident and emergency waiting time by 2004 was set; what the baseline was for this target; and what figures he has collected on progress made towards meeting the target in each quarter since the target was set.

David Lammy: The NHS Plan includes the target that no patient should spend more than four hours in accident and emergency (A&E) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge by December 2004. When this target was set, the Department of Health did not collect data on total time in accident and emergency.
	The Department of Health measures total waiting time in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. This has been collected from August 2001.
	The first full and validated data was published in Quarter 2, 2002–03. This showed that 77 per cent. of patients spend four hours or less in A&E.

Ambulances

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions an ambulance has been despatched to a 999 call at the request of a first responder vehicle in each of the last 12 months.

David Lammy: This information is not collected centrally. Every time a first responder is tasked, the ambulance control room will despatch an ambulance.

Ambulances (Oswestry)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of running ambulances for (a) elective and (b) non-elective cases from the Oswestry area to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2002.

David Lammy: The information requested is not collected by the Department.

Care Homes

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on the consultation exercise on National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People and National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Younger Adults (18–65) Proposed Amended Environmental Standards; and when he expects to announce his decisions arising out of this consultation.

Jacqui Smith: The consultation exercise ended on 8 November 2002. We have carefully considered all the comments we received. We will be making a formal announcement of our conclusions shortly and we will publish revised standards as soon as possible.

Child Deaths

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which agency has responsibility for overseeing the conduct of a Part 8 Review following the death of a child.

Jacqui Smith: In accordance with "Working Together to Safeguard Children (1999)", the area child protection committee (ACPC) for the area in which the child was normally resident should take lead responsibility for conducting any review.
	The initial scoping of the review should identify those who should contribute, although it may emerge as information becomes available that the involvement of others would be useful. Each relevant service should undertake a separate management review of its involvement with the child and family. Each local authority with social services responsibility should take lead responsibility for the establishment and effective working of ACPCs.
	The ACPC should commission an overview report which brings together and analyses the findings of the various reports from agencies and others who were involved with the child and family, and which makes recommendations for future action.

Fertility Rates

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 21 November 2002, Official Report, column 241W, on fertility rates, when the two studies into male fertility will be published.

Hazel Blears: Work has been completed on two studies into male fertility and the data are currently being analysed. Project reports are due to be submitted to the Department at the end of March 2003. These will then be peer-reviewed before wider publication of the findings.

Genito-urinary Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the requirement for more professional staff in genito-urinary services with special reference to drop-in centres; what measures are being taken to employ more such staff; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: We are taking a number of measures to improve staffing in genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics, including services where no appointment is necessary. First, we anticipate that by 2004 there will be an increase of around 35 trained specialists in GUM. This takes account of expected numbers of additional recruits and numbers leaving due to retirement.
	In addition the sexual health and HIV strategy implementation plan includes a number of actions for GUM. We have invested over £5 million this year to improve access and to develop the role and increase the numbers of health advisers within GUM. We are also undertaking a review of skill mix, working practices and workforce planning assumptions and working with professional bodies on modernising services, setting standards and increasing capacity.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the long-term director posts in the Health Protection Agency will be openly advertised.

Hazel Blears: The change management protocol governing the proposed establishment of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) provides that director level positions will initially be ring-fenced for staff transferring to the HPA. However, no individual will be slotted in without being subject to an appropriate assessment process, which will include as a minimum, a selection interview. The recognised trade unions will be consulted on those director level posts covered by this arrangement. Following these procedures, any remaining vacancies will be subject to open competition.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for health how many staff will be transferred to the HPA after 1 April; and how many staff employed by the component organisations of the HPA will not be transferring to it on 1 April.

Hazel Blears: It is envisaged that approximately 2,500 staff will transfer to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on 1 April 2003.
	Consultation continues between the staff concerned and their current employers to identify any issues relating to the transfer of undertakings from 1 April 2003. Until these consultations are completed, it will not be possible to say precisely how many staff will or will not transfer to the HPA.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for health what contingency funds he is making available to cover unforeseen costs during the establishment of the HPA.

Hazel Blears: All costs associated with the establishment of the Health Protection Agency will be met from existing allocations.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the responsibilities will be of the HPA in Wales; and what the relationship will be between the HPA and the Wales Centre for Health.

Hazel Blears: Our plans for establishing the Health Protection Agency (HPA), set out in my reply to the hon. Member on 7 January, Official Report, col. 190–191W, were developed with input from the National Assembly for Wales. Proposals for the role the HPA should discharge in relation to the National Assembly were set out at paragraphs 4.18–21 of Health Protection: A consultation document on creating a health protection agency (June 2002).
	The Wales centre for health (WCH) will have a different role as an independent training, advisory and research body. The WCH will not assume the functions of existing front-line providers, but it will work closely with bodies like the HPA and the National Public Health Service for Wales, in particular to support professional training and development.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to resignation rates from the component organisations of the HPA during each of the past 12 months.

Hazel Blears: Records of staff turnover are not held centrally. However, information from each of the component organisations indicate that there have been no dramatic increases in the overall number of staff resignations.
	The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) has indicated that there are above average resignations in a small number of management posts, potentially directly affected by the proposed changes. The Department will be working with the PHLS Board to address any business continuity issues that may arise as a consequence.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what proportion of his time Sir William Stewart is working for the Health Protection Agency; when he will decide on the constitution of the supervisory board of the Health Protection Agency; and when he will recruit members of the supervisory board of the Health Protection Agency.

Hazel Blears: Subject to legislation, we aim to establish the Health Protection Agency (HPA) from 1 April 2003. The chair and non-executive members of the board will be appointed by Ministers. Advertisements for non-executive board posts appeared in the national and regional press from 5 January, with a closing date for applications of 31 January. It will be for the board itself to decide on the appointment of its executive members.
	Sir William Stewart has been appointed consultant to the HPA implementation project, acting as shadow chairman, in the period leading up to the establishment of the Agency. This requires him to work for a minimum of three days a week.

Health Protection Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources have been provided to the HPA Steering Group in response to the Report to the Steering Group.

Hazel Blears: All costs associated with the establishment of the Health Protection Agency will be met from existing allocations up to 31 March 2003.
	Funding from 1 April 2003 has yet to be finalised.

Health Provision (Budgets)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budgets of the (a) Public Health Laboratory Service, (b) National Radiological Protection Board and (c) Microbiological Research Authority were for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04; and what the budget will be of the Health Protection Agency for the first year it will be in operation, in current prices.

Hazel Blears: The allocations for 2002–03 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Public Health Laboratory Service 64,807 
			 National Radiological Protection Board 6,547 
			 Microbiological Research Authority 16,936 
		
	
	Decisions have not yet been made on the Department's central budget programme for 2003–04.

Hospital Nutrition Policy

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the Hospital Nutrition Policy.

Hazel Blears: In the NHS Plan, the Government made a commitment to reduce under-nutrition by developing a hospital nutrition policy to improve the outcome of care of patients by 2004. A number of measures and strategies are in place to manage, monitor and screen patients for under-nutrition in hospitals.
	In February 2001, the Government released the essence of care toolkit, which includes best practice standards for the provision and delivery of food that meets the specific nutritional needs of patients. Standards, identified by patients and professionals, include the screening and assessment of nutritional needs, creating a suitable environment in which to eat, providing assistance required to eat and noting and evaluating what is eaten.
	Nutritional screening is also recommended for the care of specific groups, such as those outlined in the national service framework for older people.
	The Better Hospital Food programme is improving the ways in which meals are prepared and served through a programme developed by patients, chefs and national health service staff. This also sets nutritional standards for hospital foods. A 24-hour catering service with a new NHS menu was introduced in 2001. The menu covers continental breakfast, cold drinks, mid-morning and afternoon snacks, light lunchtime meals and an improved two-course evening dinner.
	Half of all hospitals will have ward housekeepers by 2004 to ensure that meals meet patient needs and that patients, particularly elderly people, are helped to eat the meals on offer and that the service patients receive is round the clock.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wards in hospital trusts were subject to restrictions on visiting due to hospital-acquired infections affecting patients during December 2002.

Hazel Blears: These figures are not held centrally.

Industrial Action/Illness

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working days have been lost in his Department due to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: holding answer 28 January 2003
	There have been no days lost owing to industrial action by staff in the Department of Health since 1997. Information requested on illness is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average(12) days lost per employee through sickness (per staff year) 
		
		
			 1997 7.8 
			 1998 (13)9.2 
			 1999 6.6 
			 2000 5.5 
			 2001 6.5 
			 2002 Not published 
		
	
	(12) Working days absences exclude weekends and Bank holidays for staff working a "Monday to Friday" week.
	(13) Based on pre-audit data and methodology. In 1998 civil service departments and agencies undertook an audit of their monitoring systems following the 'Working Well Together' report. The re-worked figures were not submitted in time for publication of the 1998 report and unadjusted figures were published in this year.
	Source:
	Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service BMI Health Services report (1997 Table I, 1998 Table K), Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service BIOSS report Table H (1999), Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service BIOSS report table H (2000), Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service AON report table E (2001)
	The statistics on days lost due to sickness absence within the Department of Health during the year 2002 will be available in due course.

Infection Control

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the additional funding announced in January 2001 for infection control has been spent.

David Lammy: Of the £200 million allocated, the Department has assessed and approved some 101 schemes and has allocated £96 million towards improving Decontamination facilities. A further £20 million has so far been committed to schemes for release in the 2003–04 financial year, and an ongoing investment programme will continue to review business cases submitted from the National Health Service over the next year, and further allocations will follow. All resources have to be based on effective proposals for action to ensure value for money and value for the taxpayer.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for inpatient treatment within the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust for each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Patients waiting for elective admission
		
			 NHS Trust Month Total waiting 
		
		
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust & Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust January 1999 10,155 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust & Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust January 2000 9,617 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust & Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust January 2001 8,981 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust & Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust January 2002 8,791 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust January 2003 (14)8,474 
		
	
	(14) Projected figure
	Note:
	Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was formed in August 2002
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07 and Monthly Monitoring

Lung Cancer

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to fund, in conjunction with the Medical Research Council, screening trials for lung cancer, with particular reference to screening for the incident of lung cancer among those who are not currently smokers.

Hazel Blears: The Department and the Medical Research Council, which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, have no plans at present to fund screening trials for lung cancer, either with or without particular reference to non-smokers.

Mental Health

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget has been spent on mental health in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Expenditure on mental illness as a percentage of total national health service spend from 1997 until 2000–01 is shown in the table. Figures for expenditure in 2001–02 will not be available until August 2003.
	
		Gross expenditure on services for people with mental illness, under hospital and community health service (HCHS) -- £ million
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			  
			 Total expenditure, 2000–01 prices(15),(16) 26,975 27,760 28,793 30,099 
			 Expenditure on people with mental illness 3,274 3,322 3,554 3,826 
			 Percentage of total expenditure 12.1 12.0 12.3 12.7 
		
	
	(15) Adjusted to 1999–2000 prices using HCHS deflator for NHS expenditure. Figures shown for 1999–2000 are not directly comparable with previous years due to estimations used and changes to the calculation methods.
	(16) The HCHS expenditure information is based on profiles of expenditure provided by trusts but scaled to match health authorities' total expenditure. Thus, there is a possibility that the figures under estimate the expenditure on services purchased by health authorities from the private and voluntary sectors. It may be the case that hospital expenditure is over estimated and community expenditure is under estimated. These figures exclude health authority overheads.
	Notes
	1. Includes administrative and clerical overheads.
	2. Adults aged 16–64. Excludes expenditure on mental health provision for children which cannot be separately identified.
	Source:
	Health Select Committee (FPA-PES) and R03 return (PSS EX1 from 2000–01)

MMR

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the availability is of the individual measles, mumps and rubella vaccines in each local health authority in England.

Hazel Blears: Information about the amount of vaccines held in each health authority is not routinely collected.
	Only single rubella vaccine is used by the national health service. This is offered to women of child-bearing age to protect them against rubella. The Department maintains sufficient supply of this vaccine for use by the NHS.
	Single measles and mumps vaccines are not recommended in the schedule and are therefore not supplied. Any single measles and mumps vaccines that are administered are imported and therefore are unlicensed.

MMR

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people are (a) vaccinated against and (b) not vaccinated against (i) measles, (ii) mumps and (iii) rubella in each health authority in England;
	(2)  how many people received (a) the single MMR vaccine and (b) the separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, in each health authority in England, in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information about the number of children receiving measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations by their second birthday and by their fifth birthday, together with percentage uptake figures, for each health authority has been placed in the Library. The information is contained in the Statistical Bulletin, "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2001–02", and can also be found on the Department's website at
	Information on the uptake of single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines is not routinely collected by the Department.

Mobile Dental Services

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of mobile dental services; and what plans he has to expand such services.

David Lammy: holding answer 29 January 2003
	In the right circumstances, mobile dental surgeries have a positive part to play in the provision of National Health Service dental services in both the general dental service and the community dental service.
	There are no current plans to expand the use of mobile dental services.

Mobile Telephone Masts

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks associated with non-ionising electromagnetic radiation emanating from mobile telephone masts.

Hazel Blears: Mobile telecommunications systems should comply with the exposure guidelines of the International Commission on non-ionizing radiation, as set out in European Council Recommendation EC/519/1999.
	In this country, the public health implications of mobile phone base stations were assessed by the independent expert group on mobile phones (IEGMP). Their report, the Stewart Report, published in May 2000, concluded that:
	"The balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines.''
	Measurements undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the Radiocommunications Agency have confirmed that public exposures are very much lower than the international guidelines. These results are available to the public from these organisations' websites, www.nrpb.org and www.radio.gov.uk. Network operators have undertaken to ensure that all base stations will be designed and sited so that members of the public will not be exposed to levels of electromagnetic radiation in excess of the recommended basic restriction.
	The IEGMP recommended that the issue of possible health effects from mobile phone technology should be the subject of a further review in three years time or earlier if circumstances demand it. The NRPB's independent advisory group on non-ionising radiation is currently undertaking this review. A report is expected towards the end of 2003. The World Health Organization is co-ordinating a review of the multinational research effort, www.who.int/emf and is planning to produce a health risk assessment in 2007.

NHS Dentists

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of people in (a) England, (b) each NHS region, (c) each strategic health authority and (d) each primary care trust were registered with an NHS dentist as at 30 September 2002.

David Lammy: 47.9 per cent. of people were registered with a general dental service (CDS) dentist in (a) England at 30 September 2002.
	Tables showing the registration rates for each national health service region, each strategic health authority area and each primary care trust area have been placed in the Library.
	Registrations lapse if patients do not return to their dentists within 15 months. Registration rates will exclude patients who haven't been to their CDS dentist within the past 15 months and patients who receive dental treatment from other NHS dental services.
	Registrations are included in the area of the dentist. The registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving their dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.
	Patients can obtain details of NHS dental services in their area by calling NHS Direct. Those who cannot or do not wish to be registered can be seen under occasional treatment arrangements introduced last year.
	In this session of Parliament, the Government propose to legislate for far-reaching reform of NHS dental services. The Government have been working closely with the dentistry profession to bring forward proposals. The current system has developed over a period of 50 years and it will be necessary to test a variety of new models to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. New ways of delivering NHS dentistry are about to be tested following the publication last year of the "Options for Change" report about the future of NHS dentistry.

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to fund the expansion of NHS Direct to start handling out-of-hours calls for GPs throughout the country from 2004.

David Lammy: NHS Direct is committed to achieving targets for integrating with out-of-hours providers. A strategy document detailing plans covering funding and capacity for the next three years will be published shortly.

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to abolish double triage at NHS Direct.

David Lammy: NHS Direct is keen to work with out-of-hours providers to ensure the seamless referral of patients needing out-of-hours medical care to the relevant provider.
	In schemes in a number of parts of the country patients are referred with double triage directly to a home visit or primary care service appointments. NHS Direct will continue to work with out-of-hours providers to ensure this model is adopted more widely and the double triage is eliminated.

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what feedback individual nurses employed by NHS Direct receive about their decision making.

David Lammy: The NHS Direct performance framework requires that on their performance all nurses have one-to-one sessions on operational/clinical performance on a regular basis.

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how often NHS Direct has to call on GP cooperatives to assist when it gets busy; and what will be done in the event that GP cooperatives are no longer able to assist in this way.

David Lammy: As part of integrated working, NHS Direct and providers of out-of-hours primary care have agreed a range of shared emergency arrangements for managing the total demand on the service. It is expected that these will evolve as part of the development of the integrated service.

NHS Direct

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which regions of the United Kingdom NHS Direct helplines are operating; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: NHS Direct is operational throughout the whole of England and Wales. NHS 24 is operational in north and west Scotland, and offers similar services to NHS Direct.

NHS Modernisation Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the annual budget of the NHS Modernisation Agency.

Hazel Blears: The delegated revenue budget for the National Health Service Modernisation Agency for 2002–03 is £106.5 million.

NHS Modernisation Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical staff are employed by the NHS Modernisation Agency.

Hazel Blears: At 30 December 2002, there were 670 staff employed by the National Health Service Modernisation Agency, of which 216 have professional clinical qualifications. 371 of the agency staff are working directly with clinical teams and four retain a responsibility for the delivery of clinical care as part of their role with the agency.

Primary Care (Portsmouth)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been received by the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust from his Department other than those paid through primary care trusts.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 January 2003
	No other funds have been provided to the Portsmouth National Health Service Trust from my Department other than those paid through primary care trusts (PCTs).
	Capital is allocated directly to NHS trusts rather than via PCTs. To date, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust has been allocated the following capital resources in 2002–03.
	
		£000
		
			 Budget Amount 
		
		
			  
			 Underspends from 2001–02 1,601 
			 General capital allocation 5,969 
			 Cancer 1,337 
			 Maternity 1,169 
			 Decontamination —CJD 150 
			 Decontamination—mobile 10 
			 Waiting—action on 273 
			 On-site nurseries 576 
			 Junior doctors 20 
			 Pharmaceutical 24 
			 ACADs/DTC 250 
			 Total 11,379

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health provision his Department provides to prisons in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health and the Prison Service have been working together to bring about a significant improvement in standards of prison health care. Under partnership arrangements introduced in April 2000, the Prison Service meets the costs of providing primary health care services to prisoners, while the National Health Service meets the costs of any secondary or tertiary health services they may need. The London prisons have already benefited from this partnership approach, which has, for example, led to NHS-funded, mental health in-reach teams being introduced in the seven closed Prison Service establishments in London.
	We shall continue to promote the reform of health services for prisoners, which, over the next few years, will become part of the NHS. Funding responsibility for prison health services in England is being transferred from the Home Office to the Department of Health with effect from 1 April 2003.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risk that those public health laboratories transferring to NHS trusts will lose accommodation currently used for public health purposes; and what action has been taken to minimise these risks.

Hazel Blears: We do not anticipate any of the laboratories losing their accommodation, as the appropriate level of funding will be transferred with the laboratories.
	The chief executive of the National Health Service has written to the chief executives of all the NHS trusts receiving Public Health Laboratory Service laboratories, saying that he is sure they will embrace the services into the pathology service organisation.
	It has been made clear to the chief executives of the NHS trusts concerned or their nominated lead that all the current resources of the transferring laboratories are to be protected.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the media production operations of the Public Health Laboratory Service once legislation is passed to wind up the organisation.

Hazel Blears: The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) will be wound up only when the necessary primary legislation is in place. We are aware of the importance of a continued supply of microbiological media, of an appropriate quality, to the protection of public health from communicable diseases.
	During 2003, we will be carrying out a review of the media supply operations currently performed by PHLS to identify the most appropriate management option and will be taking suitable measures to ensure this supply following the outcome of the review.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for health what the status will be of the PHLS's current liabilities after 1 April; and what proportion of the liabilities will be transferred to the HPA on 1 April.

Hazel Blears: The precise accounting arrangements for the residual Public Health Laboratory Service have yet to be decided.

Public Health Laboratory Service

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to create a replacement for the vaccine development programme conducted by the PHLS.

Hazel Blears: We do not anticipate any changes to the Department's vaccine research and development programme, which includes activities of the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS), the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, the Institute for Child Health and is presently co-ordinated by the PHLS.

Public Health Workers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public sector workers have in-house occupational health care.

David Lammy: Statistics for the number of public sector workers who have access to in-house occupational health care are not held centrally. It is for individual public sector organisations to keep their own records. Research funded by the Department of Health in 1999, the last year for which figures are available, show that 96 per cent. of national health service staff have in-house occupational health care. The NHS is not, however, responsible for occupational health care of other public sector workers. The responsibility lies with individual employers.

Secure Hospitals

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) male and (b) female inmates are being held in Rampton and Broadmoor secure hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There are currently 280 male and 52 female patients in Broadmoor Hospital and 326 male and 46 female patients in Rampton Hospital.

Telemedicine

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will introduce telemedicine to the NHS; and what development work he has done in this area.

Hazel Blears: As set out in the Government's strategy document, "Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS", our vision for information and information technology is to connect delivery of the NHS Plan with the capabilities of modern information technologies.
	In 2006–07, it is planned to introduce telemedicine in general practitioners' surgeries for electrocardiograms and skin disease, ambulance telemonitoring in 20 per cent. of all emergency response vehicles and to make home telemonitoring available in 20 per cent. of homes requiring it.
	There is considerable activity already taking place. A notable example is the Cornwall electronic patient record pilot that has implemented a successful use of telemedicine to support minor injuries units and there is fairly widespread take-up of teledermatology services. The recent national health service digital television pilots explored the potential for telehealth through a range of services.

Waiting Time Standard (NHS)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations his Department undertook before adopting the two-week waiting time standard as set out in The New NHS-Modern Dependable.

Hazel Blears: The New NHS was published in December 1997 (Cm 3807). A cancer waiting times multi-disciplinary working group was established and met in 1997. The group made recommendations to improve access to cancer services including the need to set specific waiting time targets for all stages of the patient journey. A copy of the working group report is available in the Library.
	The group made the recommendation that targets should be set to reduce cancer waiting times. The advice was taken into account in setting the two week outpatient waiting times standard. The NHS Cancer Plan introduced further targets to reduce the time patients have to wait for diagnosis and treatment.

Worcestershire Acute Hopitals Trust

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Commission for Health Improvement will publish its report on the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trusts; and what arrangements will be made to ensure honourable Members representing Worcestershire constituencies have access to the report at the time of publication.

David Lammy: The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) plans to publish its report of its clinical governance review of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust in the week commencing 24 February 2003.
	Hon. Members representing Worcestershire constituencies will be sent a copy of their local trust's CHI clinical governance review report on the day of or after publication of the report. CHI's clinical governance review reports are published freely on CHI's website at www.chi.nhs.uk/enq/index.shtml

WRVS

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for health what contracts his Department has entered into for the provision of services by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service; what is the (a) value and (b) duration of each contract; what mechanisms of (i) accountability and (ii) transparency are monitoring these contracts; and what pre-conditions have been attached to these contracts which might affect the remit of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Asbestos Testing

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to issue guidance on the frequency of air tests in buildings containing asbestos where construction or repair work is being undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The requirement to carry out such air tests is contained in the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988. This requirement will be retained in the new Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 which will come into effect by March this year. Clear guidance on the new regulations will be provided by three comprehensive Approved Codes of Practice. However, the actual frequency of air tests is not prescribed as this will depend upon an assessment of each individual situation by the person or persons in control of the work. HSENI will be spearheading an awareness campaign on the requirements of the new regulations during 2003–04.

Care Packages

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) nursing care packages and (b) residential care packages have been awarded in respect of applications made since 1 April 2002 in the Homefirst Trust area.

Des Browne: Homefirst Community HSS Trust has provided 258 nursing home packages and 191 residential care home packages in response to applications made for community care services in the period from 1 April 2002 until 31 December 2002.

Civil Servants (Community Origin)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the numerical and percentage breakdown by perceived community origin of staff employed by (a) the Ministry of Defence, (b) the Inland Revenue, (c) HM Customs and Excise and (d) the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Ian Pearson: At 1 January 2002, there were 15,928 (54 per cent.) staff employed in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) from a Protestant community background, 12,517 (42.5 per cent.) from a Roman Catholic community background and 1,035 (3.5 per cent.) whose community background was not determined.
	The other bodies, for which staffing information has been sought, are not the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Consumer Strategy

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing a new consumer strategy for Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Consumer Strategy for Northern Ireland was published in June 2002, and substantial progress has already been made under its six key themes.
	The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has initiated a major consumer education project, "Consumer Skills for All", and is further developing its website, "Consumerline". The Council led Consumer Support Network, which brings a joined-up approach to consumer advice, has met twice.
	The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) is on schedule to go live with a pilot telephone helpline for Northern Ireland consumers by 30 June 2003. Recommendations about the delivery of a money/debt advice service are expected to be submitted by 31 August 2003.
	In addition, the Northern Ireland Business Support Partnership (BSP) has been established to provide a forum within which regulators and businesses can work together to promote fair trading, legal compliance, business success and consumer satisfaction. The Trading Standards Service has already "signed up" to an Enforcement Concordat to promote fairness and openness in enforcement practices. DETI, through the BSP, is actively encouraging all Northern Ireland regulatory bodies to adopt its principles.

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether, since suspension of the Assembly, the Northern Ireland Office has adhered to the financial proposals made by the Northern Ireland Executive in its agreed budget proposals in respect of those areas under the responsibility of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

Ian Pearson: The Budget agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive for 2002–03 has not been changed by Northern Ireland Office Ministers other than by the routine reallocation of resources that have become available during monitoring rounds. For future years, the Budget 2002 proposals announced in December 2002, which cover three years from 2003–04, were developed from the Executive's Draft Budget published in September 2002. In the case of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the revised Budget for each year represents an increase on the position in the Executive's Draft Budget.

Disability Living Allowance

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people claimed disability living allowance in each of the last three years; how many DLA appeals were heard; and what the average length of time was that individuals had to wait for these appeals to be heard.

Des Browne: The figures are listed in the table.
	
		Number of disablility living allowance claims received, appeals received, appeals heard and their average waiting time
		
			 Tax year New claims Appeals received Appeals heard(17) Average time taken to arrange first hearing (weeks) 
		
		
			 2000–01 23,096 5,051 9,832 32  
			 2001–02 23,604 3,992 15,411 36  
			 April 2002—December 2002 17,558 3,225 11,793 30  
		
	
	(17) A single case may have more than one appeal element, so the number of appeals heard is higher than the number of appeal letters received

Dry Homes Scheme

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to implement a dry homes scheme, in parallel with the Warm Homes Scheme delivered by the EAGA Partnership, to low income households in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The Warm Homes Scheme offers a range of heating, draught proofing and energy efficiency measures to vulnerable people who own their home or rent from a private landlord. The homes of eligible people are surveyed by staff of the Eaga Partnership, and if it appears that works are required to repair or weather-proof the building, clients are advised to contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive about its private sector grants scheme. There are currently no plans to implement further dry homes measures in parallel with the Warm Homes Scheme.

Home Start/Sure Start

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Home Start and (b) Sure Start projects supported by departmental or trust funding were provided in 2002–03 in each district council area of Northern Ireland; and at what cost.

Paul Murphy: With regard to Sure Start projects, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not provide funding directly to the individual 23 Sure Start projects but to the four Childcare Partnerships through the appropriate Health and Social Services Board. For financial year 2002–03, the Department allocated a total of £6.6 million across the four Childcare Partnerships. Information regarding allocations to each district council area is not available.
	Information on resources allocated by trusts for Home-Start schemes is also not available on a district council basis. Details of allocations by trust area are set out in the table.
	
		£
		
			 Home-Start scheme H&SS Trust Funding secured by HSS Trust(18)  
		
		
			 East Belfast South and East Belfast 32,764 
			 North Belfast North and West Belfast 35,125 
			 North Down Ulster Community and Hospitals 45,000 
			 Newry and Mourne Newry and Mourne 40,656 
			 Causeway Causeway 36,550 
			 Colin Down Lisburn 17,500  
			 Lisburn Down Lisburn 17,500  
			 Down District (includes Newcastle and Ballynahinch) Down Lisburn 79,000 
			 Armagh and Dungannon Armagh and Dungannon 41,985 
			 West Tyrone Sperrin Lakeland 21,525 
			 Antrim District Homefirst 42,206  
			 Carrickfergus Homefirst 19,655 
		
	
	(18) 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003

Hospitals (Trolley Waits)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average trolley waits were in all hospitals in (a) November and (b) December 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Trolley wait information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean length of trolley wait. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point trolley wait.
	The median length of trolley waits by hospital are provided in the following table:
	
		
			  November December 
			  Median hours waiting Total monthly trolley waits Median hours waiting Total monthly trolley waits 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin 3–4 1 0 0 
			 Antrim 10–11 195 9–10 134 
			 Belfast City 8–9 108 4–5 7 
			 Causeway 12–13 120 16–17 93 
			 Craigavon 16–17 329 16–17 215 
			 Down 1–2 4 0 0 
			 Lagan Valley 10–11 45 8–9 61 
			 Mater 13–14 161 11–12 136 
			 Mid Ulster 4–5 16 8–9 6 
			 Royal Group 10–11 133 9–10 24 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 0 0 6–7 1 
			 Ulster 10–11 319 11–12 238 
		
	
	I am very aware of recent pressures on hospitals and the number of patients who have had to wait on trolleys before they can be admitted. A significant amount of planning was undertaken to ensure that additional services were available to help meet extra demand on services during winter and an additional £4.5 million was allocated for this. A wide range of primary and community care measures is also being taken to minimise the number of potential hospital admissions.
	Capacity is also being expanded at key hospitals. An additional 20 beds opened at the Ulster Hospital in December and extra beds are planned for Antrim, Craigavon and the Mater. I recently announced an extra £17.4 million for hospital services next year, which will support this development and provide for further improvements in critical services such as cardiac surgery, renal dialysis, cancer and intensive care. An additional £6 million will also be allocated next year to pay for more than 500 extra community care packages, which will help to maintain people in their own homes and communities and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Hospitals (Trolley Waits)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps were taken to prevent patients having to wait on trolleys in accident and emergency departments at (a) the Ulster, (b) Belfast City, (c) Antrim Area and (d) Craigavon Area hospitals on Wednesday 15 January.

Des Browne: A number of steps were taken by these hospitals to alleviate pressures on accident and emergency departments. In the Ulster Hospital, the hospital discharge team resettled 15 people on a fast-track basis to community care accommodation to make room for patients being admitted; they also utilised beds in Ards and Bangor Community Hospitals. At Belfast City Hospital, a 16-bed emergency receiving unit, which operates alongside the A&E department, was utilised to deal with emergency admissions and ensure that patients were admitted to the most appropriate wards. Antrim Area Hospital used its day surgery unit on a 24-hour basis to alleviate pressure and ensured as far as possible that patients were waiting on proper hospital beds rather than trolleys. In Craigavon Area Hospital, additional nursing staff were brought in to provide nursing care for patients on trolleys and the hospital also had a team of senior doctors assessing patients before admission.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients have been on hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland for (a) more than 12 months and (b) more than 18 months.

Des Browne: The most recent waiting list figures available reflect the position at 30 September 2002.
	At 30 September 2002 there were 14,890 patients waiting more than 12 months, and 9,108 patients waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment at hospitals in Northern Ireland. 27,949 patients were waiting more than 12 months, and 16,107 patients were waiting more than 18 months for a first outpatient appointment in Northern Ireland at 30 September 2002.

Hub Arts Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the preferred developer will be paid for the Hub Arts Centre; and how the Government will ensure value for money.

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. There is no preferred developer for the proposed arts centre: the amount the developer will be paid cannot therefore be determined. The issue of the appropriate procurement route for the project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council.

Hub Arts Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a preferred developer has been appointed for the Hub Arts Centre in the Cathedral Quarter; and what process is followed for making such an appointment.

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case, including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. There is no preferred developer for the proposed arts centre: the issue of the appropriate procurement route for the project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council.

Hub Arts Centre

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the proposals for the Hub Arts Centre in the Cathedral Quarter; what partnerships are envisaged to deliver the proposals; what the cost of delivery is; and what the completion date is.

Angela Smith: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is currently finalising a business case including an economic appraisal of options for a new purpose built arts centre in Belfast city centre. The issue of the partnerships required to deliver the proposed project will be addressed in the business case commissioned by the Arts Council. As plans for the proposed project have not been finalised, it is not yet possible to determine the cost of delivery and the completion date.

Into The West Scheme

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether individuals will face disciplinary procedures following the departmental investigations regarding the Into The West scheme.

Ian Pearson: Investigations are currently being finalised and should any disciplinary action be necessary this will be considered as appropriate when these investigations are complete.

Landfill Directive

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Government spent on rural regeneration in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Paul Murphy: The figures outlined in the table relate to funding for rural regeneration by Government in Northern Ireland for the last three financial years.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			 1999–2000 80 
			 2000–01 81.8 
			 2001–02 53 
		
	
	The figures show expenditure across a range of activities including LEADER II Programmes INTERREG Programmes; Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation; PEACE II, PESCA; the Single Programme; the Rural Stress Project; Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme etc.
	The figures include expenditure for areas outside Belfast and Londonderry by the predecessor agencies of Invest Northern Ireland (Industrial Development Board, Local Enterprise Development Unit and the Industrial Research and Technology Unit) and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The decrease in expenditure in 2001–02 is primarily attributable to changes in the number and characteristics of IDB projects.

Motorcycle Road Races

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to secure the future running of the annual motorcycle road races at the North West 200 at Portrush and the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Events Company are continuing discussions with the North West 200 organising committee following the huge success of last years event. A formal application has been received under the NIEC Major International Events Fund, and will be processed in line with NIEC procedures. A recommendation will be presented to the NIEC Board for a decision in February 2003.
	An Ulster Grand Prix application has also been received for funding under the new Events Growth Fund and will be processed in line with the criteria for that fund. NIEC expect to take a decision for that particular tranche of funding in early June 2003.

Giant's Causeway

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid is being offered to Moyle district council to help it rebuild its visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim.

Ian Pearson: The Government have not been approached formally by Moyle district council relative to the issue of grant assistance for the rebuilding of its visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway.

NHS Direct

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of the NHS Direct helpline and when it will be provided in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: An evaluation of NHS Direct published in 2000 indicated that the scheme offered benefits to service users. Specific funding was made available in England for this project. Different arrangements operate in Northern Ireland and bids for additional funding needed to introduce an NHS Direct Scheme here have not been successful.

Planning Policy

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if it is his policy that no change should be made to planning policy for the Down District Council area pending the outcome of the public inquiry into the Ards/Down Area Plan and consideration of submissions thereto.

Angela Smith: The publication of the Draft Ards and Down Area Plan will inevitably change planning policy for the Down District Council area.
	In line with current policy, the Draft Ards and Down Plan published on 10 December 2002 constitutes a material consideration in determining planning applications received ahead of any future Public Inquiry. The weight the Department attaches to the policies and proposals in the draft plan will depend on the nature of development proposals under consideration and if objections have been lodged in respect of specific policies or proposals.
	Where no objections have been lodged to relevant policies in the draft plan, then considerable weight may be attached to those policies because of the strong possibility that they will be adopted and replace those in the existing plan. The converse may apply if there have been objections to relevant policies. However, much will depend on the nature of those objections and also whether there are representations in support of particular policies.
	It may also be justifiable, in some circumstances to refuse planning permission on the grounds of prematurity. This may be appropriate in respect of development proposals which are individually so substantial or whose cumulative effect would be so significant, that to grant planning permission would prejudice the outcome of the plan process.

Public Housing

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Department of Social Development's estimates were for the amount of public sector housing to be built in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999.

Des Browne: The Department's initial targets for new build programme starts are set before the funding to the various elements of the housing budget are allocated and are adjusted in-year to take account of priorities. The initial targets were as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of houses 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,100 
			 1999–2000 2,200 
			 2000–01 1,700 
			 2001–02 1,200 
		
	
	In each year the housing budget was spent in full.

Public Housing

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public sector housing completions there were in each year since 1999.

Des Browne: Within the budget available, having taken into account other housing priorities such as NIHE funding, revenue support for vulnerable people and funding for the Northern Ireland Co-ownership scheme the following social units were completed:
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1998–99 1,739 
			 1999–2000 1,557 
			 2000–01 1,342 
			 2001–02 1,763 
		
	
	In each year the budget was spent in full.

Public Housing

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is no longer permitted to build public sector housing; and in what circumstances the NIHE would recommence building public sector housing.

Des Browne: Following the 1996 Housing Policy Review, housing associations took over responsibility for all new build social housing under the strategic direction of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). There were two main reasons for this: firstly, under HM Treasury Rules any private funding provided to the NIHE, as an Non-Departmental Public Body, scores in public expenditure terms, whereas housing associations can lever in private finance; and, secondly, housing associations had demonstrated their ability to deliver the social housing programme. The NIHE, however, still retains new build powers, for instance, when housing associations are unable to undertake particular schemes. NIHE's role is to gauge demand, the type of dwellings required to satisfy the particular needs of the community and the identification of where new social houses need to be built.
	The advantage in housing associations taking on the new build role is that by levering in private finance more social houses can be built for the same level of public money. The new build programme undertaken by housing associations is currently operating with approximately 70 per cent. public subsidy and 30 per cent. private finance. Since 1991, housing associations have attracted some £190 million into the building programme. Without this additional funding either fewer houses would be built or other programmes would have to be cut in order to sustain the same level of new build.

School Transport

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on funding for transport for pupils living in rural areas of Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The current school transport arrangements cost £54 million. They restrict free transport provision to pupils who have been unable to gain a place in all suitable schools within statutory walking distance of their home (three miles for secondary and two miles for primary school age pupils). The arrangements are the subject of regular review to ensure that they remain appropriate and effective and that they provide value for money.

Railways

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his plans are for the future of the railway lines north of Ballymena.

Angela Smith: I can confirm that the plans for the retention of services on the railway line north of Ballymena are set out in the "Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002–2012" (RTS). The intention is to retain services on this line, subject to successful results from the introduction of new trains and improved infrastructure on the "core" network in the early stages of implementing the RTS. Hence, for the foreseeable future services will be retained on the railway line north of Ballymena, subject to safety procedures. However, no major improvements will be carried out until the assessments referred to above are concluded.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland will approve for those deemed medically appropriate new drug treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis; and what assessment he has made of research from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Health Technology Board for Scotland on drugs for this condition.

Des Browne: The drugs Enbrel (Etanercept) and Remicade (Infliximab) have been available, where medically appropriate, in Northern Ireland since November 1999, for a number of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have failed to respond to existing drug therapies. The subsequent technology appraisal guidance issued in 2002 by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommending selective use of these therapies, and its endorsement by the then Health Technology Board for Scotland, relate only to treatment with these drugs in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. Although Northern Ireland has no formal arrangement with NICE, the approach adopted to making these therapies available is broadly in line with NICE recommendations. It is my intention to make additional funds available in 2003–04 for expensive drug therapies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the list for consultation with the arthritis consultant in the Northern Health and Social Service Board area was closed; and when additional resources will be allocated to re-open the list.

Des Browne: The waiting list for new consultations in rheumatology in the Northern Health and Social Services Board area was closed in March 2000. The Board is currently considering the scope for developing rheumatology services as one of its priorities in plans for the coming financial year. Until that planning process is complete at the end of March, it is not possible to say what funding will be made available for rheumatology services. Rheumatology referrals in the meantime are going to a number of hospitals in the adjacent Eastern Health and Social Services Board area.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding was allocated during 2002–03 for new drug treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis; and how much has been spent to date.

Des Browne: Within their initial allocation for 2002–03, Health and Social Services Boards set aside £1,140,000 to meet the costs of new drug treatments for severe rheumatoid arthritis. As part of the funding disbursed following June Monitoring, the Department allocated an additional £3,000,000 to meet the costs of expensive hospital drugs. I understand that, of this sum, the boards have committed £286,000 to provide for the anti-TNF treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis.
	The 2002–03 in-year expenditure in this area will depend on when the various patients commenced their courses of treatment. Information on that point is not available centrally.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals in Northern Ireland (a) suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and (b) are receiving Beta Interferon to treat this condition.

Des Browne: Beta interferon products and glatiramer are used in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers who meet criteria specified by the Association of British Neurologists. In Northern Ireland approximately 460 people, representing around 15 per cent. of those who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, are being treated with beta interferon under closely monitored conditions to determine the effectiveness of this form of therapy. This represents a treatment rate some five times higher than in the rest of the UK.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients in Northern Ireland are being treated for rheumatoid arthritis with (a) Enbrel and (b) Remicade.

Des Browne: As of December 2002, around 100 patients were receiving treatment for rheumatoid arthritis with these drugs. Approximately one third of these are being treated with Enbrel but it is not possible to give precise figures as patients' treatments are stopped, suspended and re-started for a variety of clinical reasons on an ongoing basis.

Rogue Traders

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to protect consumers in Northern Ireland from the activities of rogue traders.

Ian Pearson: In Northern Ireland existing consumer protection legislation protects consumers from a range of trading malpractices. In particular, consumers are protected from those businesses who falsely describe or give misleading prices for goods or services, trade in counterfeit goods or unclassified video works (adult movies).
	Furthermore the recently enacted Enterprise Act 2002 will extend the Stop Now Orders regime (the use of injunctive powers to stop traders continuing activities detrimental to consumers interests) to protect consumers from traders who do not meet their legal obligations.
	The Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment enforces this legislation. The service also raises public awareness through the press.

Small Business

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on small businesses in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: In December 2001 the NI Executive approved the introduction of the Northern Ireland Better Regulation Strategy. The Strategy, which actively seeks to reduce the regulatory burden on business, includes revised arrangements on Regulatory Impact Assessments and the introduction of a micro business test to assess the impact of any proposed legislation on businesses with less than 5 employees. It also requires Northern Ireland Departments to advise business at least 12 weeks in advance of any legislation, which may affect it, and to provide appropriate guidance relating to implementation.

Tourism

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Northern Ireland's total tourism budget is for 2002–03; how much of it is spent by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; and how much is spent through Tourism Ireland.

Ian Pearson: In 2002–03, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has a total Public Expenditure provision of £20.750 million for tourism. Of this amount, 9.204 million will be spent by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and £8.256 million by Tourism Ireland Ltd.

Ulster Scots Agency

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the Ulster Scots Agency to appoint a chief executive; and when the successful candidate will be announced.

Angela Smith: Interviews for the post of Chief Executive of the Ulster Scots Agency were held on 3 and 6 January 2003. The announcement of the appointment of the chief executive of the agency will be made following the appointment of the new board of the North/South Language Body and the completion of the necessary approvals.

Wind Farms

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was given to (a) wind energy projects and (b) all renewable energy projects in Northern Ireland in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002.

Ian Pearson: Public funds are dispersed on a financial year basis and the information requested is as follows.
	
		£
		
			 Projects Amount 
		
		
			  
			 2001–02  
			 (a) Wind energy projects (19)183,718 
			 (b) All renewable projects 881,797 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 (a) Wind energy projects (19)122,071 
			 (b) All renewable projects 192,601 
		
	
	(19) Included in (b) for each year

Work Permits

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the issue of work permits was returned to the Home Office.

Jane Kennedy: In June 2001 responsibility for work permits was transferred from the Department for Education and Employment to the Home Office in order to integrate that function more closely into the wider immigration control administration. The Department for Employment and Learning had been issuing work permits to Northern Ireland employers under an administrative arrangement with DfEE. It was appropriate for that work also to be transferred to the Home Office and this was implemented as from 1 September 2002.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Data Protection

Bob Russell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has received about companies claiming status as specialist registration agencies for implementation of the Data Protection Act 1998; and what action she is taking to ensure that those who need to register do so through approved channels.

Yvette Cooper: I have received representations from a number of right hon. and hon. Members on this matter. The Information Commissioner, who carries out his duties independently of Government, has a statutory duty to disseminate information about the operation of the Data Protection Act 1998. The previous Commissioner launched a public information campaign last year to alert organisations to the fact that while they may need to be on the register of data controllers, they should not be misled by businesses who have no statutory powers to maintain the register.
	A warning that organisations which falsely imply that they have official status for data protection registration services are exploiting small businesses and causing problems for the Commissioner has been placed on his website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. This advises anyone visited by the representatives of these businesses to notify the local police and anyone who wishes to complain about correspondence received from them to contact their local Trading Standards Office. There is a link to the Commissioner's warning notice on the Lord Chancellor's Department website at www.lcd.gov.uk.
	I understand that the new Commissioner is also cooperating with other relevant authorities, who are exploring what action might be taken. I am aware that the Office of Fair Trading has already taken action against a number of these businesses under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988.

Health and Safety Strategy

Helen Clark: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, 
	(1)  whether the Lord Chancellor's Department and its agencies have met the commitment arising from Action Point 13 of the June 2000 strategy statement on revitalising health and safety to summarise health and safety performance and plans in annual reports from the year 2000–01 onwards;
	(2)  what information the Lord Chancellor has collated on the application to his Department and its agencies of the checklist, circulated by letter by Sir Richard Mottram, referred to under Action Point 12 of the revitalising health and safety strategy statement; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  which senior officials within the Lord Chancellor's Department and its agencies take responsibility for health and safety at board or equivalent level; and where their names are publicised.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister for Work on 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 85W.

Occupational Stress

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the (a) prevalence and (b) causes of occupational stress among officials in the Magistrates' Court Service.

Yvette Cooper: None. Magistrates' Courts are locally managed by independent Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs). The Committees act as the strategic body responsible for determining policy in relation to the provision of services for court users, including the recruitment of staff and matters relating to their welfare.
	Representative organisations of the Magistrates' Court Service are pursuing the possibility of conducting a stress audit for Magistrates' Court Staff.

Press Releases

David Laws: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The number of press releases issued by my Department is:
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1995 335 
			 1996 354 
			 1997 310 
			 1998 386 
			 1999 387 
			 2000 452 
			 2001 463 
			 2002 435 
			 2003 (20)16 
		
	
	(20) As at 20 January 2003
	Quarterly figures since 1995 could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Disability Living Allowance

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assistance his Department provides for people whose main disabling condition is deafness when requesting help with the disability living allowance application forms; and what the (a) targets and (b) performance figures for these services are for each year since 1997;
	(2)  what methods of providing information on benefits, with specific regard to disability living allowance, to deaf people (a) have been introduced since 1997 and (b) are planned.

Maria Eagle: The Disability and Carers Service provides assistance for customers who require help completing claim packs. For deaf and hard of hearing customers this can be provided via text phone or face to face at a public counter facility, or, exceptionally, by appointment at the customer's home. Customers calling the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline can arrange a call back via textphone at an agreed time to assist with forms completion. Textphone numbers are published on all correspondence. Typetalk and Textdirect can also be used.
	All Disability and Carer Service public counter facilities are fitted with induction loop systems and portable induction loops are available for home visits. For customers who require a British Sign Language Interpreter for either public counter or home appointments, advance appointments are made depending upon the availability of an interpreter.
	The Department also provides a range of information about Disability Living Allowance in accessible formats. A large number of leaflets contain information, including SD1 Sick or disabled which is available from social security offices, Jobcentre Plus offices and most main post offices. Information is also available on the Department's website.
	Information about Disability Living Allowance, along with the rest of the Department's benefit and pension information, is currently being reviewed across the Department for Work and Pensions. The review will inform the new corporate communication standards for the production of information in accessible formats.
	The statistical information requested is unavailable.

Disability Living Allowance

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans there are subsequent to the activities for managing life system trials to bring people whose main disabling condition is deafness who have high communication technology costs but relatively low support needs into DLA entitlement.

Maria Eagle: There are no current plans to alter the entitlement conditions to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to reflect the costs of communication technology for people whose main disabling condition is deafness. Entitlement to DLA is based on the extent to which a severely disabled person requires attention, supervision or watching over by another person and/or has walking difficulties as a result of their disabilities. Activities for Managing Life (AMLs) is a model for a possible new way of assessing those requirements and difficulties but would not affect the fundamental rule that entitlement depends on each individual's personal care and mobility needs.

New Deal

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many participants left the New Deal programmes in each year since their establishment; and of those, what proportion obtained sustained jobs;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the sustained job entry rate of the New Deal.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the tables.
	
		New Deal for Young People (from January 1998)
		
			  Total number of programme leavers Proportion entering unsubsidised, sustained employment (percentage)(21) 
		
		
			 1998 78,200 47.0 
			 1999 196,300 40.3 
			 2000 198,600 39.4 
			 2001 176,600 38.3 
			 2002(22) 137,800 36.2 
		
	
	(21) A sustained job is defined as one lasting for more than 13 weeks.
	(22) Up to September.
	
		New Deal 25 plus (from July 1998)(23)
		
			  Total number of programme leavers Proportion entering unsubsidised, sustained employment (percentage)(24) 
		
		
			 1998 13,700 22.6 
			 1999 124,400 13.3 
			 2000 132,600 13.4 
			 2001 115,200 18.7 
			 2002(25) 87,000 25.1 
		
	
	(23) In April 2001, New Deal 25 plus was re-engineered to provide a flexible, more individually-tailored service to help more people get jobs and remain in them.
	(24) A sustained job is defined as one lasting for more than 13 weeks.
	(25) Up to September.
	Information on the number of leavers from New Deal for Disabled People is not available.
	The following table shows the number of participants moving into jobs and sustained jobs since the programme was launched nationally in July 2001. A sustained job in the New Deal for Disabled People is defined as one lasting 26 weeks out of a 39-week period. Therefore, a number of people who have already moved into jobs have not yet reached the point at which that job can be regarded as sustained.
	
		New Deal for Disabled People (from July 2001)
		
			  Total number of people entering employment Total number of people entering sustained employment 
		
		
			 2001 2,304 245 
			 2002(26) 5,677 1,745 
		
	
	(26) Up to November.
	Information on the number of people moving into sustained jobs through the New Deal for Lone Parents is not available. The following table shows the number of programme leavers and the proportion of leavers who move into work.
	
		New Deal for Lone Parents (from October 1998)
		
			  Total number of programme leavers Proportion entering employment (percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 1,520 47.4 
			 1999 59,460 44.3 
			 2000 86,510 52.0 
			 2001 102,890 49.7 
			 2002(27) 72,360 56.8 
		
	
	(27) Up to September.
	Information on the number of leavers and people entering sustained employment through New Deal 50 plus and the New Deal for Partners is not available. However, many of those helped into work through these programmes will have entered sustained jobs.

Benefit Fraud

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make arrangements to refer calls to the Benefit Fraud hotline and the Targeting Fraud website, which relate to Asylum Support Fraud, to NASS fraud investigations.

Malcolm Wicks: Referrals to the Benefit Fraud hotline and the Targeting Fraud website relating to asylum seekers are already checked against departmental records to establish if a benefit is in payment. If a benefit is in payment, the allegation is passed to the local Counter-Fraud Investigation Service team who, in turn, notify the Immigration Service and the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). If benefit is not in payment, the allegation is passed directly to the Immigration Service and NASS.